A charity food service in the Illawarra has been expanded and rebranded.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Hope Centre, in partnership with Illawarra Food Hub have expanded their services, and rebranded the Hope Centre Food Barn to become Hope Centre Illawarra Food Hub.
The Warrawong-based charity operates programs and services for people living below the poverty line, including a cut-price supermarket.
The founders and chief executives of the Hope Centre are Christian pastors Jeff and Gally Dakers.
Current partnerships established since 2007 enable them to now partner with 25 other food agencies, supply 58 tonnes of rescued food per week and help supply 400-plus meals to childrens’ breakfast programs.
Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong councils have supported the initiative by co-funding an Illawarra Food Hub co-ordinator. Murray Harris, originally from Sydney, has taken up the role.
The Hope Centre also provides training for long-term unemployed individuals.
The training facility utilises the 1600 square metre premises, including the shop, warehouse and commercial kitchen.
Meanwhile, police recently alleged Lizzie Millar defrauded more than $12,000 from the Hope Centre Food Barn.
Millar faces three charges of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and a charge of dishonestly obtain property by deception. The charges relate to her position as general manager of the food barn.
The case is set for hearing on August 25 at Wollongong Local Court.
Pastor Jeff Dakers said the rebranding was due to occur irrespective, and was not an attempt to distance themselves from any negative publicity stemming from the aforementioned charges.
“Because we deal with other agencies as well, not only are we a charity in our own right but we’re in a partnership with other agencies as well,” he said. “It’s really the big picture stuff.
“How do we expand what we’re doing, incorporate other agencies and just help in a much bigger way?
“We’ve expanded, we’ve got the new trucks and everything like that, and we’ve been working towards this for quite some time.”