Charity’s bitter harvest

By Paul Dunlop
VEGETABLES grown to feed needy families have been ripped up and destroyed by vandals.
The Pakenham charity garden tended by volunteers from the Cardinia Combined Churches Caring (4C’s) Food Bank was turned into a wasteland in the heartless attack.
Lettuces, tomatoes, beans, silverbeet and other seasonal vegetables were grown to bring some welcome cheer to the growing number of local families who rely on the 4C’s and other services for support.
Food bank coordinator Jeni Mathieson said volunteers were devastated by the damage.
Mrs Mathieson said the vandalism came at the worst possible time.
The food bank is working frantically to find enough food and other items to make up to 600 Christmas hampers for its clients throughout the Cardinia Shire.
“It’s so disappointing, such as waste,” Mrs Mathieson said.
Volunteer Kath Reimert and husband Theo have worked countless hours in the garden.
Mrs Reimert said the attack was the “lowest of the low”.
“They’ve pulled out a dozen tomato plants, half a dozen bean plants, destroyed the silverbeet and pulled lettuces which were just starting to form hearts.
“There was a bed full of weeds there, they could have pulled out the weeds instead,” Mrs Reimert said.
The attacked happened some time between Tuesday and Saturday, most likely at night.
Vegetables were ripped up and left to rot. Garden stakes were also pulled up and taken.
“They just left the food lying on the ground,” Mrs Reimert said.
“Most of it was only about a week off being ready to harvest.
“But what really upsets us is that it was taken from the disadvantaged in the community.
“It’s all run by volunteers and it is hard enough to be growing vegetables at the moment with the water restrictions and the dry, hot weather.
“Christmas is our busiest time of the year.”
Spiralling household costs are prompting more families than ever before to turn to welfare services because they are struggling to make ends meet.
Mrs Mathieson said the 4C’s had to raise up to $60,000 per year to do its work in the community.
“People who are committed with mortgages to the hilt only need something like a major car repair bill and they are in trouble,” Mrs Mathieson said.
“We’re here to fill the gap as best we can — and this does not help.”
It is the first time the garden beds have been vandalised but 4C’s officials now fear repeat attacks.
Mrs Reimert said the vegetables were mostly grown from seedlings provided by local residents or businesses.
Many people in the community volunteered their time to water the garden and tend to the plants, she said.
“It’s hard to believe somebody could do this,” MrsReimert said.
“The garden is done with love. It is just so disappointing.”