Many of those most in need in the local area will be reaping the benefits of passionate volunteers Christine Welsh and Peter Buggy who have started a food delivery service providing much needed assistance to vulnerable men, women and children.
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The husband and wife team moved to the area in April last year and after getting involved with local charities, including Pearls Place, they saw the need for a food rescue service and started up REAP Sapphire Coast in December 2014.
Several times a week Christine and Peter collect donated food from local organisations and deliver it to charities covering the area from Bega to Eden. But Christine believes there is so much more that can be done so she is calling out to local restaurants to get involved and to donate any food that would otherwise be discarded.
Christine said: "We are always looking for more donations because there are always people to feed. My husband and I are very flexible, we are willing to pick up food late at night from restaurants who may have some left over at the end of the night. Anytime, anywhere.
“Many people don’t know this but proportionally the Bega Valley Shire has the largest number of homeless people in NSW, I wanted to do something and I thought that this was the best way that I could ensure that at the very least these people get fed.
“I have met families that have to decide between eating or putting petrol in the car and mothers who forego meals to ensure their kids eat.”
Using her own ute, eskies and portable fridges, Christine travels around to all types of food providers including fruit and vegetable markets, supermarkets, butchers, bakeries and restaurants to collect food that would otherwise be going to landfill.
“It is crazy to think just how much food goes to waste each year. Four million tonnes of food ends up as landfill each year. In Australia the average Australian throws out one of every five shopping bags of food they purchase.”
Seeing herself as the matchmaker between food and need, Christine said she completely understands what people in need are going through.
“I remember what it is like to be hungry, I grew up in a very poor household so I know what it is like to not have any food to eat.”
Sapphire Coast REAP is a regional chapter of the Australia wide organisation OzHarvest which since commencing approximately 10 years ago has delivered more than 35 million meals to those in need.
Christine said she has learnt a lot from OzHarvest and other REAP chapters about the importance of developing good relationships with the local food industry.
She said the organisation wouldn’t function without the cooperation and generosity of local businesses making special mention of John Walker of Palarang Organic Meats who she said donates approximately $900 worth of food each month.
REAP can only accept donated food from businesses and are unable to accept food from individuals, but Christine said that if anyone is interested in donating their time she would love the help of more volunteers. She also said people can donate fridges and freezers or money which will go towards purchasing more freezers. To get involved with REAP Sapphire Coast contact Christine at reapsapphirecoast@gmail.com.
