Putting food on the table

an initiative of the Temple Society Australia
Kind. Fair. Helpful.

Martina Eaton set up the CHAMPION community hub to help families put food on their table when she recognised that many people fall through the cracks because they don't qualify for Centrelink or other assistance.

"I decided to start a service that would help these members of the community, not only with food parcels but also support to navigate a way out of the crises they were facing," says Martina, who is the Community Care Worker at The Temple Society of Australia.

Families can also request help with expenses such as schoolbooks and transport vouchers for job interviews.

CHAMPION has been open for seven years and stands for Community Hub and Meeting Place in Our Neighbourhood. It provides support to 300 clients a month.

Martina is particularly proud that CHAMPION also facilitates much needed social interaction and is a place where people feel welcome and supported.

She raised funds to develop a community garden to grow produce and reduce the amount of food scraps and garden matter going into landfill.

"We actively encourage our visitors at CHAMPION to participate in garden events so they have social interactions, are active and benefit from fresh food they have grown themselves," Martina says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. The Temple Society will use the funds to purchase a new fridge and freezer. This will allow them to supply and help more people in need with refridgerated and frozen foods.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here