By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Narre Warren soup kitchen has a unique perspective on life on the fringes of the world’s most liveable city.
While Melbourne basks in the sought-after honour bestowed by The Economist magazine, Transit Soup Kitchen’s Keith Vethaak says life isn’t so liveable for many families hit by soaring rents and power costs.
“If mortgage rates go up, it will be disastrous for a lot of families.
“People are right on the limit.”
He tells of a single mum living with seven kids in a van for the past 12 months.
“She was told (by Department of Housing) they didn’t have a house big enough for them,” Mr Vethaak says.
“You’d think a three-bedroom house would be better than living in a car.”
Mr Vethaak has referred several recent families who’ve fled their homes due to domestic violence. They have also been living in cars for weeks.
Mr Vethaak and his tireless, cheery band of 100 volunteers help feed more than 1100 registered families with hot meals as well as fresh groceries.
That equates to about 3000 people seeking help, Mr Vethaak says.
More than 40 new families strapped by living costs have joined that list in the past month. They include refugees and migrants from a diverse range of religions and nations.
“The demand is enormous,” Mr Vethaak says. “And I’m expecting that will keep on growing.”
There is a growing cohort of working families feeling the pinch, including contractors whose work dries up.
Mr Vethaak hears of the shame of a truckie who said he could not feed his family and tried to hang himself.
They get referred to him by Centrelink, doctors, police as well as schools with students skipping essential meals.
“There’s a huge number who don’t have breakfast and lunch.
“We later find out the family has to pay the rent, mortgage or electricity bills and there’s just no money for food.”
It cooks or gives away about three tonnes of food a week, sourced from the charities Second Bite and Avocare as well as generous local supermarkets, market gardens and bakeries.
On Thursdays, the hall turns into a food market stocked with tonnes of fruit, vegetables, canned food, cereals and dairy.
About 80 families are greeted heartily and made to feel welcome as they collect a week’s worth of food.
It makes you wonder what would happen if Transit Soup Kitchen wasn’t their safety net.
Mr Vethaak doesn’t have an answer. “It’s really, really tough especially in this area.”
Donations and volunteers are welcome to Transit Soup Kitchen. If you can help, call 0438 398 594.
