Funding lifeline keeps Ballina meal centre serving those in need

A FUNDING boost worth $25,000 will help the Ballina Hot Meal Centre keep its service operational for the next 12 months.

There has been a growing demand for the service which provides free meals for homeless, disadvantaged and lonely people from Ballina and surrounding areas.

Ballina MP Tamara Smith said she lobbied for the boost, which came from the NSW Premier’s Discretionary Fund.

“It’s such a heartfelt moment to see the premier (Chris Minns) help keep the doors open,” Ms Smith said.

“Byron Shire has the highest number of rough sleepers in the state and Ballina is not far behind it.

“This gives us another year to figure out how we’re going to get more funding.

“As modest as this funding is, it’s going to keep the lights on and the meals prepared by the volunteers for the next year.

Ms Smith was joined by Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig at the centre for the funding announcement.

It has been operational for 27 years and was quickly re-established after it was closed for a short time in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteer Col Lee was instrumental in getting it running again and it now operates as an independent organisation.

They serve 300 meals twice a week with a crew of about 34 volunteers.

“We have seen an upsurge in people struggling, a lot of people use this facility for their main meals,” Mr Lee said.

“We’re seeing a lot of middle-aged people with families in here now, too, the demand for our service just keeps growing.

“Our volunteers are the heart of this place, when we closed, they missed it as much as the people who we assist.”

Mr Hoenig said he was grateful for the volunteers when he spoke with the centre’s general manager Dawn Sword.

“It is incredibly important, we’re talking about people who can’t feed themselves and rely on these wonderful volunteers,” he said.

“Some of them were vulnerable themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they kept turning up to provide the service.

“I was grateful to meet with Dawn and the volunteers who provide not only a meal but a friendly face, offering comfort and support to those who need it most.”