By SARAH MATTHEWS

A Wimmera social enterprise program has created a way for people to put a smile on the face of community members who might be struggling.

Laneway Café without Borders, run out of Centre for Participation in Horsham, has created ‘Laneway care packages’ to spread a little kindness

Project manager Jessica Koenig Fisher said the care packages were inspired by a belief there was a need for kindness in the community.

“People want to give back and support each other but at times, community members are unsure how to achieve this,” she said.

“Us taking the initiative has made the gift of giving easy.

“Food brings people together and this is our way of sending a message of inclusiveness within our community.”

Ms Koenig Fisher said the packages contained fresh food made daily in the café’s kitchen.

The care packages are all similar, depending on availability of products, and cost $100. 

“This provides the consumer with a minimum of 15 serves of ready-made meals plus staples to help fill the cupboard,” Ms Koenig Fisher said.

“We have kept them at cost price and a lot of the food can be frozen.  

“People can give them as a gift to someone to simply show support to those who may be struggling. 

“Many individuals and businesses that have lost their income or jobs during COVID will be still feeling the effect for months to come.”

Ms Koenig Fisher said the café operated in conjunction with the centre’s other hospitality arms, including a community meals service, catering, social pantry at Murra Warra Wind Farm and food relief cooking.

“This all occurs Monday to Friday while providing meaningful work experience in a safe happy space, which is offered by our learner pathway programs,” she said.

Centre acting chief executive Robbie Millar said the care packages were an extension of the organisation’s commitment to changing lives and strengthening communities through opportunities in community support, volunteering, learning and partnerships.

“While the end product is clearly beneficial to the community, the process of prepping, making and then delivering through our amazing volunteers also meets numerous other internal goals we have set, which helps build stronger, more resilient communities,” he said.

“We’ve also supported more than 32,000 hours of learning through more than 1300 enrolments, delivered more than 7800 community meals and over 5300 Meals on Wheels meals, travelled more than 35,000 kilometres to support over 1800 social support activities, provided opportunity for our L2P learner drivers to continue to get driving lessons, with eight achieving their licence in the past 12 months alone.”

Laneway Café Without Borders launched in July 2019 in partnership with Horsham Special School and Woodbine.

To combat difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the café moved from Horsham’s central business district to Centre for Participation in Urquhart Street.

Mr Millar said there was a need to look at different ways to deliver the organisation’s pathway programs while staying in touch with the community’s needs.

“I feel we were able to keep building towards a sustainable program base; this was partly achieved by moving our program to our home base at Centre for Participation,” he said.

Mr Millar said the social enterprise had continued to develop though COVID, resulting in several ‘excellent outcomes’, including a graduate of the pathway program finding employment at a regional café.

“All of our programs have pivoted service delivery multiple times during the past 15 months. We know that what we do to support the community is important, so we’ve done whatever we can to shift and adapt to keep people involved and connected,” he said.

“All of these things – while we’ve had to adapt delivery of them significantly to adhere to government regulations and our own COVID-safe plan, have been achieved through this unprecedented time. 

“Personally, I am so grateful for the amazing team we have to ensure the people most in need get supported, but particularly grateful to the many, many amazing volunteers who without them, many of these services would not exist.”

People can call 0481 208 359 or direct message the Laneway – Café without Borders Facebook page to order a care package.

The entire June 30, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire June 30,, 2021 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!