On behalf of the committee of Lorne Community Connect I wish to thank the people of Lorne and district for the extent of the support we have recently received for our efforts to create a food and clothing distribution hub at the Connect Centre. The response by our community to those in need during the pandemic has been both generous and unstinting. People have volunteered their time, donated groceries, clothing and in many cases, cash.
The funds donated have been useful, as we have been able to immediately respond to a specific need and to also add grocery items that have not been placed at the collection point in Foodworks. The details for the electronic transfer of funds is also available, on removable labels, at the collection point. I also wish to thank the members of the Lorne Community Op Shop for their financial assistance and for their donations of clothing. The Centre is one of the places where you may pick-up the application forms for the Op Shop essential food support programme.
A reminder of the arrangements:
The Centre (previously known as the Senior Citizens building) will be open every Tuesday and Thursday between 12:00 and 2:00 pm for the collection of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, personal hygiene items and clothing.
We intend to continue to open for as long as the need in our community exists. We can also arrange for the delivery of care packages to people who are unable to get to the Centre. You may contact us in the following ways:
Email: lornecommunity@gmail.com
Clive: 0400 756 854
Gary: 0421 077 267
Committee for Lorne: 0438 843 258
For people wishing to deliver items directly to the Centre, we will open at 11:00 am each Tuesday and Thursday. The drop of point will be clearly signed and is separate from the main entrance.
We wish to thank the staff at the Surf Coast Shire who have arranged for the permission to re-open the Centre for this purpose. They have also provided the health and safety guidelines under which we operate and the cleaning of the Centre after each daily use. Our thanks also go to Jonn Stewart and the staff at Foodworks, who have assisted greatly with the collection of donated items and their delivery to the Centre.
Another avenue of support is through a volunteer organisation, based in Torquay, called Feed Me Surf Coast. You can view their website here.
They will deliver grocery and fresh food to Lorne. Lorne Community Connect will coordinate the delivery. You need to contact them directly on Facebook, SMS on 0422 441 205 or email at feedmesurfcoast@gmail.com
The need in our community is real and if, as we expect, the impacts are long-term, then the need will be greater. I have always felt it to be a privilege to live in Lorne, but the events of the last few weeks have highlighted that we live in a very caring and beautiful place.
Gary Allen
President, Lorne Community Connect
Note:
You can make a donation to assist us to support our community
Bank account details are:
Account name: Lorne Community Connect
BSB: 063-708
Account Number: 1009 0421
Reference: Your surname
