$100,000 awarded to help COVID-affected residents in Lake Mac

Published on 12 October 2021

OzHarvest volunteer Elaine Ennis assists with packing hampers at the Windale PCYC.jpg

Assistance grants worth almost $100,000 are set to provide a much-needed boost to more than 20 community organisations on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lake Macquarie.

Lake Macquarie City Council will provide a total 23 grants of up to $5000 each to help people in need in across the city via local organisations such as Wyee Hub, Sugarvalley Neighbourhood Advancement Group, Meals on Wheels and Hunter Homeless Connect.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the grants aimed to provide immediate, direct relief where it was needed most.

“These grants have been fast-tracked to ensure they help people most affected by the recent COVID lockdowns and restrictions,” Cr Fraser said.

“They will help put food on the table of families doing it tough, they’ll fund counselling services for people struggling to see light at the end of the tunnel, and they’ll provide vouchers for people who may no longer be able to make ends meet.”

Windale PCYC was one of 14 groups to receive the maximum $5000 under the grant program.

It will use the funds partnering with Oz Harvest to deliver personal hygiene and protective equipment packs to families in need across Lake Macquarie.

OzHarvest Emergency Food Coordinator Peter Schwarz said the organisation worked with about 60 local agencies to distribute care packages daily.

“We’ve been doing 620 hampers in our local region a week,” he said.

“Generally, it’s churches, schools, domestic violence refuges and charities like that.”

“The need has only increased as we have dealt with COVID, and we’re finding more people and more agencies are coming to us for assistance. The vans are all full every day, but without grants like this, programs like ours don’t exist.”

Grants were awarded to projects or activities that clearly related to the increased demands or needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and which addressed the needs of people who were most vulnerable in the community.

Go to lakemac.com.au for more information about how Council is helping the community during COVID-19.

COVID Assistance Grant recipients

 

Organisation

Description

Location

Funding

Wyee Hub

Food pantry/shelving and fridge to enable greater supply of food

Wyee

$5000

Swansea Community Cottage Inc

Wi-fi for identified families
E-vouchers to complement food hampers

Swansea

$4328

Sugarvalley Neighbourhood Advancement Group Inc

Provision of hampers and vouchers

West Wallsend and surrounds

$5000

Southlakes Incorporated

Funding to support cost of meal delivery

South and Westlakes

$4000

Southlake Community Services Inc.

Social connection activities targeted towards young people and/or families

Bonnells Bay and surrounds

$5000

Police Citizens Youth Clubs NSW LTD

Provison of personal hygiene/personal protective equipment packs

Windale

$5000

Our Community Place Inc

Lunch hub - takeaway

Windale

$2750

Nova for Women

Emergency accommodation and support

Lake Macquarie

$5000

Newcastle Meals on Wheels

Funding to support cost of meal delivery

Boolaroo, Morisset and Toronto

$5000

Mums Cottage

Providing wellbeing packs for children and families.

Holmesville

$5000

Macquarie Preschools Cooperative Limited

Carey Bay Preschool Mindfulness program for young children

Carey Bay

$1680

Lifeline Direct Limited

Telehealth and face to face counselling

Lake Macquarie

$1800

JobQuest-Penrith Skills for Jobs
(HIPPY Program)

Mental health wellbeing resources for families

Windale

$5000

Hunter Multicultural Communities Inc

Provision of care packages and multicultural meals

Cardiff, Charlestown, Toronto, Morisset, Belmont, Swansea.

$5000

Hunter Homeless Connect Incorporated

Food relief & community directory support

Lake Macquarie

$5000

Hunter Care Ltd

Food and personal hygiene hampers to our local community

Edgeworth

$5000

Healing Path to Wellness

Purchase of telehealth equipment to enable clients to access medical care

Pelican

$5000

Gateway Care

Weather screens to protect food hampers awaiting distribution/pick-up
Food hamper packaging/boxes
Hand trolleys for transportation

Pelican

$4280

Edgeworth Memorial Neighbourhood Centre Inc

Provision of food and other essential household items

Edgeworth and surrounds

$4500

Community Activities Lake Macquarie Inc.

Emergency relief vouchers - food and prepaid data

Lake Macquarie- primarily westlakes

$5000

Belmont Neighbourhood Centre

Purchase of vouchers to help those in our community suffering financially due to the COVID lockdown

Belmont

$5000

Survivors R Us Inc.

Provision of food hampers

Lake Macquarie

$4000

Charlestown Caring Group

Provision of hampers and vouchers for local club high-tea meals

Lake Macquarie

$2500