Overview
Everyone's favourite food rescue organisation OzHarvest has transformed an old Waterloo grocery store into its second "take what you need, give if you can" market. Opening in collaboration with the City of Sydney and NSW Government, the new food market is hoped to help address the drastic rise in demand for food relief and support the vulnerable community in the area.
After the successful trial of the OzHarvest pop up Hamper Hub in June and July — an incentive delivering 600 bags of free groceries and pre-cooked meals distributed to local residents once a week — the market will be the long-term centre for the vulnerable, who can access food relief services from 10am–2pm Friday–Monday. This is OzHarvest's second supermarket of the kind, following the opening of its Kensington store in April 2017. The grocer now feeds 300 customers a day operating on a similar "take what you need, give if you can" philosophy.
The impact of COVID-19 has seen the need for food relief skyrocket, said OzHarvest Founder and CEO Ronni Kahn, with many Sydneysiders experiencing food insecurity for the first time ever due to job loss. "OzHarvest is committed to feeding as many people as possible and has expanded its services, beyond the usual food rescue operations to offer new emergency food relief," Kahn said in a statement. "We know the importance of providing a nourishing meal. It's more than just food. It means that families who are struggling will be able to take stronger steps to rebuild their lives during this pandemic".
The impact of the pandemic has led OzHarvest to expand its emergency food relief services, launching new community initiatives including regular weekly Hamper Hubs for international students and a mobile market distributing food to bushfire-affected areas.
If you're in need of food services, you can visit the supermarket (you'll need to BYO bag) — or, if you would like to support the organisation, you can donate. Just $1 will allow OzHarvest to deliver two meals to people in need.
The OzHarvest Market Waterloo is open from 10am–2pm Friday–Monday at 95 Wellington Street, Waterloo. For more information about OzHarvest services and to enquire about volunteering, visit ozharvest.org.