After a pandemic, a flood and amid ever increasing cost-of-living pressures, it’s fair to say plenty of people in Seymour are feeling the pinch.
Simultaneously, times of challenge provide an opportunity to pull together and find strength in community, as Seymour is so famous for doing.
The Centre in Seymour has found such an opportunity. Well known for its training courses, the Centre offers a range of community support and activities.
Partnering with the Seymour Food Relief Collaborative, Healthy Kids Mitchell and the Seed Project, the Centre has launched Community Food Share Seymour.
The Centre CEO Sue Geals said that she was proud to be able to work in collaboration with the Seymour Food Relief Collaborative and Healthy Kids Mitchell “to host such a worthwhile service to our communities.”
The first food exchange was held on July 6 and provided hope for many.
While Seymour has an existing emergency food relief program, this food exchange is the first of its kind — ongoing, community-driven and people can walk in without any eligibility criteria.
The exchange is held once a month, anybody is welcome, there are no names recorded and there is a variety of products available to suit individual circumstances.
Those that wish may bring any produce of which they have excess, or simply pop down for a coffee and chat.
After joining the Seymour Food Relief Collaborative, Barbara Walker from the Centre suggested to her leadership team that they provide a permanent monthly space and that the Seymour staff host Community Food Share Seymour.
Quickly approved, it became a reality, and provided 37 hampers of pantry staples in the first exchange alongside a range of fresh produce and dairy products.
“A lot of effort went in, but it didn’t feel like effort, we were blown away by the response … It was so well received, it was very humbling,” Barb said.
“We are coming together to support one another with monthly events, showcasing the true spirit of locals helping locals. The rise in the current cost of living is creating various challenges to most of our community, but we are stronger together than we are apart.
“The community has just been an amazing support, spreading the word and with donations ... The community wants to help, they just didn’t have a focus of where to help.”
The program is likely to expand, with insights gained from the first exchange such as the inclusion of pet food.
There are also plans for a monthly recipe to be released and a partnership with Food Bank for ideas on how best to cook the food provided.
Information on other service providers in the town will be available at the exchanges, although there is no obligation to engage with any.
The next food exchange will be held on Thursday, August 3 at 3 Wallis St, Seymour.
If you know someone who may be interested in or benefit from the food exchange, pass on the message, get the word out and let them know they are welcome, Barb said.