When the call went out last week that the Murwillumbah Community Centre had lost its food supplies in the flood, a group of Chinderah women were quick to mobilise into action.
The Centre, based in Knox Park, Murwillumbah, feeds from 60-80 homeless and less fortunate people each week but ,with floods sweeping into their building and electricity supplies being knocked out, their entire food supply was lost.
However, in just five days Louise Togo, her cousin Kelly Gonda and their friend Tanya Erezuma had put the call out and food was pouring in. By Tuesday, the trio were able to pass on a mountain of food. And with the trio all living around the Chinderah-Cudgen area and watching the water from the Tweed rise around and, in some cases, under their own and their neighbours’ and families’ houses, it was a cause close to their hearts.
“The three of us come from a community service background,” Tanya Erezuma said, explaining why the group had got involved.
“None of us are working actively in that field at the moment – it’s just the way of thinking.”
Hearing about the plight, Louise set up a facebook “event” advertising the need to donate.
“Louise set up a “facebook event” and we all went through our email lists as well,” Tanya said.
“The food came from all of our friends and family throughout the Cudgen, Kingscliff and Chinderah area. We had good support from the Cudgen School as well and through my workmates at the Tweed Shire Council.”
The trio said people “emptied their cupboards” providing tinned food and other goods, while one woman went and donated 36 easy meals to the cause and another went out and did a $150 shop just for the cause.
And of course, local farmers weren’t to be outdone, also donating fresh produce to help restock the Community Centre larders.
“The Paddon and Palmer families proved boxes of fruit and vegetables that we were able to donate too,” Louise said.
“We certainly do live in an awesome community.”
The Murwillumbah Community Centre is open from 9.30am-3pm from Monday to Friday and centre Welfare worker Amanda Lindh said donations would be most welcome.
