Peachs continue caring for the community

PEACHS Torquay has been putting smiles on faces and food in bellies with its We Care Wednesday’s program.

In August, the local business began sending care packages of produce to members of the community struggling due to COVID-19.

Peachs Torquay employee Larni Chafer said they had been moved by the number of people in the community who were suffering because of the pandemic.

“We knew that there were a lot of people struggling.

“There was a lot of people in the community that had obviously lost their jobs and had been effected financially, but also a lot of others who were sick and had to isolate from their family, so there is a bit of everything.

Peachs Torquay encouraged people to nominate residents who knew someone who would benefit from a care package.

Ms Chafer said they were overwhelmed by the number of nominations.

“At the beginning, we did a huge week where we did about 100 care packs. We got so many nominations and it was sad to see.”

Since then, Peachs Torquay has made the care packages a weekly exercise.

The care packs include about $80-90 worth of produce each – the amount delivered and the contents vary.

“Some weeks it is two, some weeks it is four,” Ms Chafer said.

“They have all kinds of things, so you’ve got your bananas and apples and then your potatoes and carrots and other fresh produce, we always put in some dairy, a locally made pie, and some bread as well.”

She said it had been rewarding to help people in trying times.

“It’s been really nice. We delivered to one lady and our delivery driver was the first person she had spoken to face-to-face in three months.

“It is more just to put a pep in someone’s step, just to give them a surprise and let them know that other people were thinking of them.”

People can nominate community members to be We Care Wednesday recipients by heading to facebook.com/PeachsTorquay.