Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Food Pantry Open For All To Give And Take

A local church has revamped its food pantry, offering a huge variety of free food to those in need.

Mackay Church of Christ’s food pantry has taken various forms over the years, the church looking to expand the program with Lynnette Labuschagne leading the way.

“She’s done an extraordinarily good job,” said Pastor Paul Hicks.

Open every Tuesday from 7:30am to 9:30am, Mackay Church of Christ offers grocery items, baked goods, meat, fruit and vegetables and pet food to those in need.

“We have people coming with not much, we have people coming just hard on their luck,” said Mr Hicks.

“Some days they might be able to give and some days they might need to take but there’s no harm, no foul.

“People are not required to do anything.

“When we give, we give what we would eat, and we give with no thought of return.”

Local suppliers and businesses donate goods to the church as well as other churchgoers and people throughout the community.

“It’s been quite amazing, when people found out they just kept coming,” Mr Hicks said.

“We’ve done our very best to give all the food away, and we cannot do it.

“It’s a fantastic problem to have, we have plenty of food.

“There’s no leveller on the planet like compassion.

“One singular act of kindness costs you nothing, but it means the difference between someone having dinner tonight and not.”

Anyone interested in partaking in the church’s food pantry, whether to give, take or simply enjoy a cuppa and a chat, is invited to Mackay Church of Christ every Tuesday morning from 7:30am to 9:30am.

Mackay Church of Christ’s food pantry is open every Tuesday morning

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