General News
25 July, 2024
Emergency Food Centre hands out $1m in aid
A Horsham charity says it has handed out $1million in food and aid over the past three years.

Christian Emergency Food Centre operations manager John Spehr told Horsham Combined Probus Club's latest meeting that the number of people needing help had increased about 20 per cent in the past few years.
Mr Spehr, one of 65 centre volunteers, outlined the history of the organisation and its progress over the years.
The food centre formed in 1998 under the banner of Horsham Christian Ministers Association to create a central venue for people needing help.
The first venue was in Firebrace Street in the former Wimmera Shire premises with participating churches Holy Trinity Lutheran, St Michael and St John's Catholic Church, Harvest Christian Church, the Salvation Army, St John's Anglican, Church of Christ, Seventh Day Adventist, Uniting, Presbyterian and Spirit Song churches.
The centre was later moved to larger premises it owns on the west side of Firebrace Street.
The not-for-profit group provides food parcels and other assistance such as fuel vouchers, and helps with utility bills.
Mr Spehr said people received up to four boxes of food at a time, and there were extra hampers at Christmas. Last year 450 Christmas hampers were given out.
Client manager Bev Miatke is the sole paid worker at the centre, which opens each week day from 1pm to 4pm. Running costs are met by donations and a government grant program.
"We are very reliant on the generosity of the community." Mr Spehr said.
"Some retailers are very generous with donations of food items. Supermarkets are also generous donors through Second Bite and other programs."
People also can receive frozen meals donated by Horsham Sports and Community Club or prepared by volunteers using kitchen facilities at Horsham Church of Christ.
"With the food prices and other living expenses rising, some people are finding it very hard to meet every day living costs," Mr Spehr said.