Community initiative delivers fresh food where it’s needed most

A RECENT local initiative is supplying quality fresh produce to the Murwillumbah Community Centre to support residents with healthy food options in the cost-of-living crisis.

Grow & Share was formed late in 2024 following a Tweed Shire Council Food Network Event mid-year.

The group of eight has hit the ground running. Volunteer participant Robert Gee said they were actively involved in different aspects of the initiative and hope to increase participation in the coming months.

“We are heavily focused on avoiding waste through sharing our excess, growing more locally, and growing organically to improve the nutritional value of the produce grown,” Mr Gee said.

“We also provide advice to anyone who wishes to become more involved in gardening to avoid transportation costs.

“All of these things are key to reducing our overall impact. We are also supported by Life a Little Greener and Raven Place, amongst others.

“There are significant groups involved in providing meals to those in need, and we aim to complement this with our fresh, local produce that can go directly to people directly and be turned into meals.”

The Murwillumbah Community Centre supports individuals and families in need with emergency food parcels, free community meals and access to low-cost food through the Food Hub.

The Grow & Share project is a small part of the Free Food Movement under the guidance of centre manager Fiona Hunt, who said there was always demand for fresh produce.

“We guarantee that no food supplied will go to waste; such is the need in our community,” she said.

Grow & Share also has a plot at the Murwillumbah Community Gardens and the new Community Garden at All Saints Anglican Church.

For information and to become part of the movement, visit facebook.com/people/Grow-Share/61566875451228