Children and their parents living in community housing managed by Home in Place, and other housing providers, are benefitting from breakfast clubs in Taree and Forster. Children receive a free breakfast and packed lunch for school.
Between 60 and 70 people attend the monthly Taree breakfast club. It is held at the Deakin Crescent Community Garden in in the heart of Taree’s Bushland Estate. Around 20 people are usually at the fortnightly Forster breakfast at the Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Centre.
The breakfast clubs were established by Catholic Care Social Services and NSW Police, Manning Great Lakes in both areas. The Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service is also a founding partner of the Forster breakfast. The aim is to help increase school attendance on Fridays and provide another opportunity for residents to connect with local support services.
Home in Place became a partner of both events in June 2022. Our team make warm Milo for the children and coffee and tea for the parents and helpers while Catholic Care Social Services look after the food and BBQ.
Home in Place Community Participation Officer Michelle Palmer said with many of the attendees living in social housing managed by Home in Place, it is another opportunity to engage with tenants. She said Home in Place also co-ordinates promotion of the events, and one of her Bushland Estate tenants distributes fliers across the community.
“This is hands down the absolute best part of my job,” Michelle said.
“Getting to build those personal relationships with community is a really positive thing,” she said.
“It’s amazing to see the growth in kids. To see kids go from being really shy and not wanting to engage with us to confidently coming up saying please and thank you.”
NSW Police Superintendent Chris Schilt said the breakfast clubs are an opportunity to engage with the community in an informal setting.
“We’re getting to have a chat to people about issues that are important to them,” Chris said.
“It gives us an opportunity to understand what’s going on in the community and if need be we can refer people to other services,” he said.
Michelle Robinson from Catholic Care Social Services loves seeing community come out and interact.
“We can see how much families and kids enjoy coming along,” Michelle said.
“I really love uniting with the other services that come along like Home in Place,” she said.
Home in Place manages more than 730 social housing properties in the Taree/Manning area. It also provides all temporary accommodation services, private rental assistance and Start Safely (escaping domestic violence subsidy program) on behalf of the government.
This news item brought to you by Home in Place.
https://homeinplace.org/breakfasts-fuel-mid-north-coast-kids-for-school/
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