Vinnies Fred’s Van expands service in Adelaide’s north
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The St Vincent de Paul Society is adding an extra meal service to its Elizabeth Fred’s Van in response to the rising demand for assistance in the northern suburbs.
Announcing the new Sunday lunch service, Vinnies said that calls for financial, clothing and food assistance in the northern Adelaide area had increased in recent years.
In 2016/17 Vinnies Elizabeth Centre reported a 50 per cent increase in appointments for its assistance service, and increasing requests for help. The Langford Drive centre includes a shop, Fred’s Van service and also delivers the home visitation program.
Currently, the Fred’s Van service provides dinner on Wednesday nights inside a café-style diner which features a newly renovated alfresco area. Sunday lunches will be added when additional volunteers have been recruited.
“We have amazing volunteers who deliver the 40,000 meals we provide South Australians who are homeless or disadvantaged each year through our Fred’s Van services, however we need additional help with this extra lunch service,” said Vinnies SA CEO David Wark.
Mr Wark said Sunday lunch was chosen for the new service to maximise the opportunity for families to enjoy a nutritious meal.
“We want to encourage more families to bring their children in for a warm and healthy meal. Adelaide’s northern suburbs are one of our highest need areas and there are many families who struggle to put regular nutritious meals on the table.”
Ann Anderson, who has volunteered for Fred’s Van at Elizabeth for several years, said she was delighted that Vinnies would be offering the additional service.
“There is great need in this area,” she said. “It’s more than the food, it’s the community getting together and they really value that social opportunity. They support each other and they enjoy the social interaction with us too. The guests are so polite and appreciative. It’s a lovely thing to be a part of.”
Vinnies has 10 Fred’s Van services across South Australia, with the Elizabeth and Salisbury sites recording the highest numbers of customers.
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