A Salvation Army café/social enterprise at Port Kembla will remain open for at least a few more weeks, following community outcry.
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The Mercury previously reported that ‘The Foundery’ would close its doors permanently on Friday.
Earlier this week, Karen Walker, community fundraising and public relations co-ordinator for The Salvation Army Illawarra said that the café was “no longer financially sustainable”.
The news was met with widespread disappointment from the community, as well as an Illawarra MP.
However, on Wednesday, Ms Walker said over the past 24 hours, they “have had a number of key supporters step forward to assist us in developing a sustainable business model for The Foundery”.
The venue will now remain open until August 10, when the organisation will re-evaluate the situation.
“We will now consult with the community, put a proposal together, and reassess our options on Friday, August 10,” Ms Walker said.
“The Salvation Army Illawarra will be hosting a community meeting early next week to gather feedback and suggestions from anyone who is interested in the future of The Foundery.
“For more information, please call 0438 435 705. We would like to extend a big thank you for all of those within the community who have lent us a hand.”
The Salvos began operating the Wentworth Street café in 2014.
Wollongong MP Paul Scully said he had written to the Illawarra branch of the Salvos on behalf of a series of Port Kembla residents disappointed by the decision.
He had requested the organsiation reconsider the decision, citing the cafe’s popularity within the Port Kembla community, the training opportunities it provided for the long-term unemployed, and its role in the revitalisation of the suburb.
Mr Scully called for the Illawarra Salvos to be given a chance to look at how they might be able to make some changes and ensure the venue remained viable.
“While I appreciate you can’t run these things at a loss forever, I think the sudden closure without an opportunity for the local Salvos to explore other ways to keep it ticking over is what’s shocked people in Port Kembla,” he said.
The Mercury’s Facebook page had been inundated with comments from readers disappointed by the news.
“I’m actually so sad,” Laura Rojas wrote. “The only place where us mothers can sit and have a hot drink while the children can play and explore in the Port Kembla area… This is such a loss.”
“A real loss,” Liz Mazar said. “Just when you thought Port Kembla was turning a corner this happens. They do a great coffee too. Sadly missed.”
Commercial component aside, the café provided work experience for students, and aimed to help the long-term unemployed by training and equipping them for the workforce.