THE Lifehouse Church in Moree turned two on Sunday with pastor Steve Lott and his wife Cie using the occasion to call on residents to donate quality furniture and raise awareness about the food pantry they run for low-income families, which includes free fruit, bread and vegetables.
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Reflecting on the two years since they moved with their family to Moree from Coffs Harbour, Cie said that the Lifehouse Care Shop which they opened in April had been a “real blessing” for many families.
“We’ve had people whose houses have burnt down and we’ve been able to provide them with linen, household goods like plates and cups and with clothing and shoes.”
Steve said the example “fully encompassed” what Lifehouse was trying to achieve in Moree.
“If somebody experiences something like a house fire, we want to be in a position to come alongside that family,” he said. “They may be taken care of by insurance in the long-term, but in the interim - or if they are not insured - people need immediate assistance and we’ve been able to do that several times.”
Cie spoke about another case in which Lifehouse was able to help in a period of hardship.
“Another family matter we had recently, the wife had a stroke and had to be taken to Sydney for treatment,” she said. “The husband has had to go down their eight times as well and with all the doctors’ bills they weren’t able to buy groceries.”
Steve and Cie were able to help the family by providing temporary free food from the Lifehouse Pantry, which they run in-store every Thursday from 10am to midday.
“It runs like a mini-supermarket so, for example, a box of Cornflakes is $2 as opposed to, say, $8 [at market value],” he said.
“It’s for low-income earners. People who have a current health care or pension card get to shop there and receive complimentary fruit, bread and vegetables. It’s great for pensioners, large families and single-parent families. My wife and I have a large family of our own and we know the challenges of finances and grocery prices.”
Steve said the pantry was about giving people a “hand-up, not a hand-out” and “bringing a bit of dignity to the whole process”.
The non-profit Lifehouse uses the money from sales to purchase food and produce from Foodbank in Sydney, while the free bread, fruit and veg is donated by Woolworths.
To find out more about the pantry or furniture pick-up and delivery call or drop into the care shop and speak with store manager Casey Ryan or Cie.
