Services step in to help out

DANDENONG support services stepped up to help one of their own at Christmas.
Cornerstone Contact Centre lacked the resources to produce hampers to hand out during December but co-ordinator Don Cameron said three other groups provided the Mason and Walker streets centre with goods.
“A big thank you to Pastor Larry Edwards and his team from Dandenong Church of Christ for donating many hampers,” he said.
“Most hampers were given out just before Christmas to help our people survive when meal programs take a break.
“For many years now we have collected free bread from Ho Hiep Bakery in Noble Park.
“Their staff have been great to us and the bread they donate has ended up in backpacks and cupboards of many hungry people all over Dandenong.”
Mr Cameron said Christmas was always a busy and difficult time for those who turn to Cornerstone for welfare assistance.
“Social isolation and loneliness is especially noticeable when surrounded by images of happy families enjoying each other’s company,” he said.
“A combined group comprised of people from Avocare and several other community groups put on a fantastic lunch on Christmas Day and the team from the Coptic Orthodox Church in Hallam was able to run their regular meal program on Boxing Day which was very well attended.”
Cornerstone services are due to return in February.
“We would love to keep them open but we need to give our volunteers some time off to spend with their families and take a very well earned break,” Mr Cameron said.
The centre is looking forward to a productive year.
“The Cornerstone building is probably in the best condition we’ve ever had it in thanks to a handy man from the Neighbourhood House programs,” he said.
“Our ovens managed to survive another year cooking thousands of meals for hungry people and our kitchen crew are looking forward to a new oven hopefully sometime this year.
“We managed to buy a new trailer last year and we were very happy when the food bank staff carefully guided a pallet of goods onto it using a forklift.”