Charity in short supply

By Paul Dunlop
FRESH fruit and vegetables are desperately needed to feed an evergrowing number of hungry families.
Pakenhambased 4Cs Emergency Food Bank coordinator Jeni Mathieson last week made a plea for public donations of fresh produce.
Mrs Mathieson said the high cost of fruit and vegetables and a huge increase in clients over the past year meant the charity organisation was struggling to meet demand.
The destruction by vandals of the 4Cs’ own garden last November, reported in the Gazette, added to the pressure.
The 4Cs — Cardinia Combined Churches Caring — provides food and other support services to clients around the shire.
“Because of the drought, the price of fruit and vegies has hiked up enormously. Our food bill has doubled,” Mrs Mathieson said.
“We’ve seen the biggest growth in our clientele ever in the last year. We’re trying to seek out cheaper prices wherever we can.
“Our biggest problem is fruit. We need to make sure kids get some fruit for their school lunches and it’s just hard to get.”
Cora Lynn potato grower Michael Rouse and family donate boxes of potatoes that are collected with the help of children from Chairo Christian School.
“Our potatoes are grown for Arnotts for chips and the like but we put aside the ones that are undersize or oversize and they go to the 4Cs or other charities,” Mr Rouse said.
Mrs Mathieson said another grower dropped by last week with some silverbeet. Any donations of fresh fruit or vegetables were gratefully accepted, she said.
“We really appreciate what the Rouse family and others do for us.
“Anything that’s in season, even if people have a bit leftover from their garden in the backyard,” she said.
“Families look forward to getting the produce. It’s a big thing for us.”
Mrs Mathieson said she was astounded by the booming demand for the services offered by the 4Cs and other local charity organisations.
“We had 380 extra families come on board last year, which is a huge number if you think each family might have four people.”