Three trolley-loads of donations being taken to GYS. (left to right) Matt, Broadway Security team, Pakjira, GYS Volunteer and Philip, Glebe Society volunteer (photo: Judy Vergison)

by Judy Vergison, October 2021, Bulletin 8/2021

Recently Glebe and surrounding suburbs have had a significant number of COVID positive cases. The Glebe Youth Service (GYS) is currently supporting over 30 households where some people are COVID positive and another 20 households are either isolating or impacted by the current COVID lockdowns. GYS is also working with NSW Health to support impacted families.

This support is taking place in a range of ways:

  • Phone support: wellbeing checks, psychosocial support, assessing needs and providing health and other information
  • Coordination of meal deliveries and food relief, including fruit, vegetables and non-perishables
  • Coordination of Foodbank hamper orders – non-perishable and food items
  • Grocery and household essentials, enabling families to have a ‘big shop’
  • Food security vouchers
  • Coordination of Coles e-gift cards to clients and their families
  • Providing phone credit
  • Access to online entertainment, with ‘stay in touch’ check-ins with youth workers
  • Emergency shopping for individuals and families in isolation

Generous financial donations by the Glebe community allowed GYS and their fabulous team to respond very quickly to local priorities as the latest COVID situation in Glebe and surrounds began to emerge.

Glebe Society members collecting food donations at Broadway Shopping Centre for the Glebe Youth Service (photo: Dorothy Davis)

DROP OFF YOUR ITEMS: Broadway Community Donation + Food Drive (20 September to 17 October)

Broadway Shopping Centre has set up a Community Donation and Food Drive bin on the ground floor (outside Aldi and Chemistworks) – see the photo at the end of this article. Centre Management let us know about the high level of community support in the first week, with generous donations filling the bin daily.

You can drop off non-perishable donations or make a donation using the code on the display in the donation area. Below is a list of suitable items you can drop off when next shopping, including:

Tinned food and meals with ring pulls

Long life milk

Cooking oil

Flour, sugar & salt

Baby food & formula (a high demand item)

Nappies (a high demand item)

Cereal

Deodorant, sanitary items & personal care items

Pasta & Pasta sauce

Tea & coffee

Pet food

Snack foods

GYS Community food drive collection, Broadway, 25 September 2021 (photo: Phil Vergison)

Glebe Society members will collect items from Broadway and take the donations to the GYS facility in Glebe Point Rd for packing into hampers for local delivery.

This is such a practical way for everyone to help. We really appreciate Broadway Shopping Centre taking the initiative to set up the donation area. Of course, this is a big call-out to everyone in our caring Glebe community who has already contributed, as well others who plan to! These caring actions really help to lift the spirits in the community.