Food trailer brings help to Riverwood

In a sign of how tough life has become for too many people in our community, more than 200 people turned out in Riverwood, in Sydney’s south-west for a meal, snack packs and toiletries.

Food trailer delivers support for the vulnerable in Riverwood.

The PAYCE Foundation donated a retro, fully fitted food trailer to the St John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church to assist people struggling on the streets.

The regular event is a collaboration with St John the Baptist, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, the Riverwood Community Centre and the NSW Department of Communities.

The van donation by the PAYCE Foundation follows the donation of several vans to other charities.

People are also given support to other services if required.

The latest census data shows the median weekly household income in Riverwood – population 12,793 – was $1210, two-thirds of the NSW median of $1829.

Thirty per cent of households had a weekly income below $650.

PAYCE Foundation director Dominic Sullivan said the mobile van could bring support to areas where it was most needed.

“The demand for assistance is clear here with the number of people who turned out,” he said.

“It is not just about the meals, but an opportunity for people to connect, and if required receive further assistance.”

The service will run fortnightly for the next six months.