THE HOMELESS and less fortunate residents of Guyra have struggled for years in their search for food relief and now the Global Care Food Pantry will provide a solution.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the past people in need have travelled to Armidale for food relief, a costly exercise for those that are already financially disadvantaged and project officer Liz Williams said she hopes the move will relieve some stress.
"It's [Armidale] a long way to drive if you haven't got enough money for food and petrol," she said.
"Especially if you come from an unemployed or one job household - there's a lot of clients now coming because they're struggling just to meet the cost of food especially when all the big bills come in."
The Global Care Food Pantry supplies groceries and basic household items to families in need for a heavily reduced price.
Clients can purchase four full bags of groceries for $50, far cheaper than Woolworths or Coles.
The bags include staple foods like cereals and bread, fruit and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauces, prepared meals, school snacks, milk and some gluten and sugar free items.
"We actually did a comparison, we got a bag of our groceries and prices them in Woolies and Coles, for $15 for one of our bags you get $65 worth of groceries - that was without the top brands that we get through Food Bank sometimes."
The Global Care Food Pantry will run out of the Northwest Church in Guyra, where pastors Tony and Ruth Stace have put up their hands to volunteer.
"We were hoping for somewhere to house the pantry and luckily the Northwest Church pastors have offered their premises and they've built storage, they've got it all ready for the opening and the volunteers are organised," Ms Williams said.
"We start on the 20th and hopefully that will alleviate some of the problems that a lot of people have up in Guyra."
Emergency relief is also offered for those who desperately need it, but will only be given three times before clients are referred on to a financial advisor.
The Global Care Food Pantry will open on January 20 at the Northwest Church, it will run every Friday from 1 to 3pm.