God’s provision fills bare shelves at Miranda food relief centre
By LAUREN MARTIN
In March this year, the shelves at the Salvos’ food relief and assistance centre in Miranda, Sydney, were almost empty. So, the team prayed.
“The shelves were looking really bare,” said Miranda Mission Leader Lieut-Colonel David Godkin. “We had started the year full of food donations, thanks to the generosity of our community during the Christmas period, but with the cost of living hurting so many people, we have been called upon to assist more and more families and individuals in need. So, stock was very, very low.”
The team at the Community Co-op Sutherland Shire didn’t despair. Having supported the local community with food relief and other assistance for so many years, they knew that God always provided whenever there was a need.
“Oh, it happens all the time,” said David. “God is incredible! One moment we are worried about a lack of meals in our freezer, and then a whole team of amazing home chefs from our nearby St Stylianos Greek Orthodox Church will arrive with 100 individual meals! We are so blessed.”
A similar occurrence happened after Easter. One of the staff members from a partner organisation, The Trades, who support the Community Co-Op Sutherland Shire, of which Shire Salvos is a founding member, saw a photo of the co-op on social media and noticed that the shelves looked empty. So, the Tradies decided to run an Easter food drive, and their staff and club members responded generously.
The result was two carloads of grocery items to fill the shelves at the co-op: “We thank God for our amazing partners at The Tradies,” said David. “Not only do staff members generously donate their time at the Community Co-Op Sutherland Shire, but they also support in other ways, such as the food drive. It’s great to know that there are so many people in our community who want to help others.”
Shire Salvos Miranda supports hundreds of families and individuals weekly through its food relief and assistance centre. Offering not only food but support through case management, alcohol and other drugs counsellors, Moneycare financial counselling, Drive for Life and journeying with people through The Salvation Army’s Positive Lifestyle Program.
Its participation and hosting of the Community Co-Op Sutherland Shire allow Shire Salvos to partner with other charities in the local area in the fight against food poverty.
