The Commonwealth Government has established a range of agency partnerships to provide relief to people experiencing emergencies around food and other essentials.
It had introduced a number of changes in this funding round. Samaritans had not been engaged as a provider.
Shortly the agencies who are providing support will outline the assistance they require. Some parishes may wish to collect non-perishable food for them.
If a parish is not currently engaged in direct food relief, it would be wise to wait and see how the new and changed services establish their work. Parishes continuing to provide direct relief should continue with this ministry.
The community who seeks relief are helped by referrals. Samaritans will no longer be receiving referrals. Given this, Samaritans is not maintaining a pantry for relief other than at Cessnock Sinc.
The landscape of emergency support changes every 5 years or so. Some of the recent change relates to national organisations who work closely with supermarket chains in reducing food wastage.
Samaritans will continue to look for opportunities to support the most vulnerable in our community.
- Bishop Peter
