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Staples Bag at Baulkham Hills

Dawn Gail joined a queue at the Balcombe Heights Estate, Baulkham Hills to stock up on healthy food with Staples Bag project.

She chose a $30 bag filled with staples such as bread, milk, cereals and meat and then had the chance to pick seven items from the fruit and vegetables table.

For Mrs Gail, the Staples Bag is a lifeline that gives her decent chance to make healthy meal choices she otherwise couldn’t afford.

“I am on a pension,” she said, as she added sweet potatoes, peaches, mushrooms, oranges, tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers to her enviro bag.

“The Staples Bag is so important because it means we can eat healthily and not spend the little money we have on cheap rubbish.”

The Staples Bag van will be pulling up behind The Turner Buildings on the Balcombe Heights Estate every second Tuesday of the month thanks to a partnership between Settlement Services International (SSI) and Hills Community Aid.

The Baulkham Hills “pop up” is the 14th that SSI runs.

The aim is not to just provide good food at reduced cost to people in need but also to provide work experience the volunteer experience to refugees and new migrants.

Leanne Hung, SSI’s manager of youth employment and Social Enterprise said: In the two years since SSI started up it social enterprise program

“We serve over 1000 customers a week.”

Img 4737 Staples Bag At Baulkham HillsShe said 600 volunteers had supported the program with 150 finding work as a result.

“Unemployment has been really hard for our disadvantaged youth and refugees”

‘It’s not just gaining vocational skills, it’s about giving back to the community.”

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne congratulated Hills Community Aid on its partnership.

“It always excites me to see services that come to the hills and makes a difference to people. Lives.”

Acting CEO at Hills Community Aid, Mici Beer thanks Hills Shire Council for its support with a social inclusion grant to partner with SSI to provide staple bags and financial assistance and advice for youth and migrants”

“Every person should have access to affordable food but this is not the reality for all people in The Hills, our new partnership with SSI this will assist people with access to fresh food at a price they can afford. Our next Staples Bag Pop-Up Stall is on Friday 16 February behind Turner Building (No 4), Balcombe Heights Estate, 92 Seven Hills Rd, Baulkham Hills (opposite Jasper Road School)

BREAKOUT

Bags include vegetarians ($15), standard ($20), families ($30) with shoppers having the choice of which fresh vegetables, fruits and type of meat or fish to buy.

To find out more visit thestaplesbag.ssi.org.au or call Hills Community Aid on 9639 8620.

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