Here to Help: The Hub at Darling Avenue
Meet the team behind a Murray Bridge organisation which offers tea and coffee, food and friendship every Friday.
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If you live in the south of Murray Bridge, you probably already know: Friday is Hub day.
Upwards of 150 people descend on a cafe out the back of a church on Darling Avenue every Friday morning from nine – in fact, 50 or more are often waiting before the gate opens.
Almost two years have passed since a group of volunteers first partnered with Foodbank and Bridge City Church to find a way of distributing free or low-cost groceries to locals who needed it.
Carolyn Edwards said the need had been obvious.
“Driving up and down Swanport Road we used to see mums walking up and down the road with bags of shopping, walking long distances with their kids,” she said.
“From Foodbank to here is five kilometres, so that’s a 10km round trip.”
“They’re like family to me. They have fun activities and great food. We love the tomatoes.” –Sheena Icke
How can the Hub help?
The Hub at Darling Avenue offers free tea, coffee and toasted sandwiches to all comers.
Thanks to a partnership with Foodbank, it can offer bread, fruit and vegetables free of charge; and packaged goods at a low cost.
You can have a shower there, or do your washing, if you don’t have access to those facilities at the moment.
Some participants bring produce from their gardens to share with anyone who wants or needs it.
More than that, though, you can expect friendly faces, happy to chat about how things are going or just to spend some time with you.
“I come because I’m a pensioner. It helps out my food bill for the week – we don’t have to buy potatoes, we don’t have to buy carrots.” –John Late
Who can the Hub help, when and where?
- Who: Anyone and everyone
- When: 9am-12 noon on Fridays
- Where: 63 Darling Avenue, Murray Bridge
- More information: Follow the Hub at Darling Avenue on Facebook or visit www.thehubatdarling.org.au.
“It’s a nice social outing, and people doing it tough can get some groceries. I like the social side, catching up with different people.” –Barb Talbot
This story was produced as a result of a grant from the Local and Independent News Association.
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