Food Barn answers a huge SOS

Although he established the church in only October last year, Jeff Dakers, the pastor at the Hope Centre Outreach in Warrawong, is already making an impression on the lives of many of the disadvantaged residing in Wollongong’s southern suburbs.

With the support of donations and the volunteering of others, he runs the Food Barn at Berkeley, where he provides essential groceries to people in need.

Pastor Dakers said the scheme had been met with a huge response from the public, but he desperately needed more donations of money and food to keep up with the growing demand.

The non-denominational church currently operates from the Warrawong Community Centre, and draws largely on its 50-member congregation for donations.

“It’s going really well,” he said. “We have thousands of registrations from people in need,

“People who use the service have to show they are in need, then we ask them for a donation of $25 for between $80 and $100 worth of groceries.

“We are planning to open a store at Warrawong, and hopefully open a third store somewhere else. Most of the people don’t drive, so we need to have stores in other locations,” he added.

Pastor Dakers said that while the Food Barn asked for a donation for food it had purchased itself, food donations from businesses, such as grocery stores, was given away for free.

He said that many of the people in distress who use the service were referred to Food Barn by other welfare organisations and agencies; they include the Salvation Army, Anglicare, the Department of Housing, Barnardos, St Vincent De Paul and Illawarra Youth Housing.

The Food Barn is open on Thursdays and Fridays every week, and is staffed by volunteers.

Pastor Dakers said those wishing to donate food can do so at the Food Barn, Winnima Way, Berkeley, while financial donations should be sent to PO Box 311, Warrawong.

For more information, call Jeff Dakers on 0419 601 040.