By Callum Ludwig
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Redwood Community Centre in Warburton is providing rations for those in need through their Chewsday Bite program.
Registrations for parcels are taken on Mondays before personalised food parcels are packed and distributed on Tuesdays.
Manager at ADRA Redwood Community Centre Kate Barratt said the centre has been around for about 10 years.
“The program first came about because of Covid, with the food donated by SecondBite and Foodbank Australia, as well as local growers and our community garden when available,” she said.
“Initially, we packed the parcels and put them into people’s cars or delivered them. But we found that because there is less food available for us to give out, but a higher demand it’s been best for us to take registrations and that way we can also personalise the parcels to people’s needs.”
The centre offers services and support to local people for low or no cost including mental health care, housing support, assistance with family violence or drug or alcohol issues, social connection and referrals to other support services.
Ms Barratt said the centre offers wraparound support for people.
“It’s just a welcoming space for people to come and join us, but we also have our practical supports as well such as the lounge, laundry and shower. This support is vital and we don’t only hand out a food parcel and then send people on their way we make sure that other supports are in place for them,” she said.
“The end of the line here in Warburton as we call ourselves. We’ve always been a close-knit community. But I think the Redwood has been able to bring people even closer through volunteering, and a lot of our volunteers are former participants or current participants that are actually able to give back as well, which is great for their self-pride.”
Participants Margaret, Ian and Jan shared their experiences with the program, with Margaret and Jan also offering their time to give back as volunteers at the centre.
“It’s been a relief for me, and a good place to meet people as well, to have a talk with some of the locals and catch up on conversations,” Ian said.
“It’s been very helpful on the weeks that there’s a bit of a struggle financially, this is an absolute godsend, it really is a blessing. The social aspect as well, and to get involved yourself and help out when you can and how important is it to have that opportunity as well,” said Margaret.
The ADRA Community Centre also has a $105,000 annual fundraising goal. In 2022, they have raised $41,811 so far from three donors. Anyone interested can make a one-time donation or set up a monthly donation here: www.adra.org.au/project/adra-community-centre-redwood/
Jan said volunteering helps fulfil the human desire to feel needed.
“I remember one day coming in here and speaking to a lady and asking her where she lived, and she said ‘In the state forest, in my car.’ It does make you feel helpless sometimes because you can’t change those circumstances but they can come here for help if nothing else,” she said.
“You don’t always know how close someone is to the edge so here we always feel like maybe we can help them find an even keel somewhere.”
The ADRA organisation originally began as the Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service (SAWS) back in 1956. In Australia, ADRA now operates over 110 community projects, and the global network extends into over 100 countries.
Margaret said helping out in the soup kitchen on a Friday night has been an eye-opener.
“We’ve got a few homeless people coming in, and it’s really sad but it just drives you to do more and help more,” she said.
“Being a smaller town, it’s really important that we stick together, especially in times of crisis. We all need to pull together and do what we can, each one of us. Because more and more, we’re finding that more people are struggling financially and they just can’t bring themselves out of the hole.”
