Chilly at Neighbourhood Centre

THE Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre will soon be able to accept perishable food items for their community pantry thanks to a donation from BHP to buy a cool room.

Lee Watts, manager of the Centre said they were excited to be able to accept perishable foods.

“At least one family a day is in contact with the service in need of food assistance that is 365 families per year and quite often during holiday periods and in winter there is an increase in numbers needing support,” Lee Watts said.

“The Centre currently has donated goods of non-perishable items and bread and work with Scone St Vincent de Paul volunteers who distribute the food, but the cool room will provide room for more items and food that we have not been able to keep previously,” Mrs Watts said.

“The service is very grateful for the financial contribution from BHP Coal and are working with a local company to build the cool room,” she said.

“When the cool room is not in use it will be available for hire and will generated income that will go back into the service to support the local community,” Ms Watts said.

David Boshoff, general manager of Mount Arthur Coal said they were glad to be able to help in a meaningful way.

“The Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre provides vital support to families in need, so when we assessed the ways we could help the communities where we operate, this project stood out for us,” said Mr Boshoff.