Daniel Cinzio of the Flagstone Foodbank and Op Shop
In times of family crisis when there is no food in the cupboard, when you have to choose between paying the rent or feeding the kids, or when a tragedy hits you from left field, it's good to know there is help just down the street.
That's why [my family and I] started the Flagstone Foodbank.
We wanted to provide a local place to go when the going gets tough and at the Flagstone Foodbank we help everyone in need, because life happens!
Since May of 2020 we have been supporting, on average, 45 families per week, sometimes many more.
These needy families come in all shapes and sizes - single parents, aged pensioners, the unemployed, those suffering with health problems or disability, those escaping domestic violence and families just struggling to make ends meet; and they leave us laden with enough food to stock a pantry and ease the burden of tough times.
We have lived and worked in Flagstone for over 10 years and know through experience that 'Flagstonians' are extremely community minded and always pull together to support each other. This is a community that cares!
Over the course of the past year we have had many people drop in with donations so that needy families get their hampers for free.
The generosity and kindness of many local businesses and tradies has also been overwhelming and has made it possible for us to not only provide amazing produce, but to move into our new venue and expand to become the Flagstone Foodbank and Op Shop.
We are excited about this new opportunity to continue caring for our local community.
Flagstone Foodbank is run by the local charity: Beyond Barriers - Restoring Lives.