Foodbank Open Food Hub in Christies Beach

The new Foodbank SA Food Hub opened in Christies Beach is helping to deliver much needed food relief to hundreds of families in the southern suburbs. The opening of the centre aims to help with the huge demand in the region, with new data highlighting an additional 40,000 meals are needed each month in the Southern suburbs to meet the current levels of demand.

Around 24,000 meals are already provided each month to suburbs within the Onkaparinga Council, including Christies Beach, Reynella, Hackham, Aberfoyle Park and Happy Valley. However Foodbank SA chief executive officer Greg Pattinson said almost double that number of people were still missing out.

“Many families in the southern suburbs are really struggling right now to put food on the table. We have held three pop-up food hubs in the region, and each time we were stunned about the demand, and how much people really need a hand,” he said.

“Each of these pop-ups have exceeded demand. At the last Foodbank pop up held in Noarlunga more than 800 struggling South Australians were referred to access the free food in just under two hours. We know there is a huge demand in the region and, sadly, it is still growing.”

Mr Pattinson said the aim of the new Christies Beach Food Hub was to “get the food to where it is needed the most”. Other Foodbank Food Hubs are located in Edwardstown, Bowden, Elizabeth and Mt Gambier, with community and Foodbank supported hubs located in Adelaide and Port Pirie. Foodbank also has warehouses in Edwardstown, Whyalla, Berri and Mt Gambier to get food to those in need.

Foodbank is Australia’s largest food relief and food rescue organisation. The organisation’s most recent 2018 Hunger Report, released in October, revealed that a staggering 117,260 South Australians are accessing food relief every month – 27 percent of them children.

It highlighted that there was a growing need in South Australia, with 51% of the charities working with Foodbank SA reporting an increase in people seeking food relief, and that around 28% more food is needed to meet demand.

Statistics show in Christies Beach alone, 6001 meals per month are provided, with a further 6324 extra meals needed each month. Similar figures apply for surrounding suburbs, with Seaford and Morphett Vale both having identified needs of 7617 and 5044 extra meals per month.

“By opening in the southern suburbs, we are going to where there is clearly a need. It will also serve as an important link to other services and agencies who clients might seek support and advice from, particularly at this time of the year,” Mr Pattinson said.

“The current and former State Government and the City of Onkaparinga have been outstanding partners in this, along with many of the community groups and volunteers in the region, and with their ongoing support, I believe the Christies Beach Food Hub will make a very real difference to families in the area.”

To access the Foodbank Food Hub in Christies Beach, attendees must have a referral voucher from one of the agencies we work with. The following agencies are currently referring to the Food Hub, including: Baptist Church Christies Beach, Anglicare Christies Beach, ADRA Morphett Vale, Church of Christ Brighton, Life without Barriers, Seaford Ecumenical Mission, St Vinnies or Housing SA. 

The Foodbank Food Hub is located at 59 Beach Rd Christies Beach.

We take this time to thank our valued supporters who have contributed to the Christies Beach Food Hub: 

• Initial Grant – SA Government’s “Fund My Neighbourhood” program
• Financial support – Onkaparinga Council
• Introductions and design advice- Phil Winwood
• Flooring material donation – Catherine Winwood “Interface”
• Shelving and displays – PC Infrastructure and OTR
• Construction works – Shape Interiors
• Floor installation – Flooring Solutions SA
• Gate – PLC Fencing
• Fruit & Veg displays – Woolworths
• Checkout counters – Romeos Foodland
• IT setup, Computers and cabling – ElectraNet
• Automatic Doors – Smart Solutions SA
• Signage – Big Yellow Rocket
• Painting – Tariq al Farraji
• Roller door – Andrew Foti, Felmeri Group.