Way of the West leading the way to food security

Inspired by Pope Francis’ call for Catholics to show compassion and care for refugees, schools and parishes in Melbourne’s west aim to collect 40,000 donated food items this year for the 620 people seeking asylum who access the ASRC Foodbank each week.

The initiative started by Mark Northeast is called the Way of the West program and already has five participating schools, with the hope of gaining five more in 2017. St Johns, Footscray, Corpus Christi, Kingsville and St Marys, Williamstown have collected over 6,000 food and other items already. Christ the King in Braybrook, Emmanuel College in Altona North and Point Cook are also collecting new children’s toys for the ASRC for Christmas.

Schools choose one month a year to hold a food drive and each week, they collect different items needed by the Foodbank. So far, each school has collected an average of 2,000 food items a month – enough to feed the 600 people seeking asylum in the Western Regions for three days.

But the program is about more than collecting food; it’s about raising awareness. The children are immersed in the social justice program; they speak to their parishes at Sunday mass, visit lower grades to explain the food drive, make trips to the ASRC in Footscray, manage and count the donated items and even pack the delivery van.

At the end of the month, schools host a community celebration, often over a meal cooked, served and shared with those seeking asylum or donated by the community. It’s another powerful example of food’s ability to bring people together.

Way of the West engages families and wider communities around issues faced by people seeking asylum including food security. Karen Williams, the Food and Goods Donations Coordinator at the ASRC is excited about this potential.

‘The Foodbank builds a sense of family and community through food and gives people the opportunity to participate in creating food security for those in need. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by everything going on in the world right now, but the Foodbank allows us, on a very practical level, to look a person in the eye and say “we care about you and we want you to have access to the fundamental requirements of life.”’

Bishop Vincent Long of a participating parish and who is has lived experience of asylum feels positive about this initiative.

‘It’s grass root communities that bring about real positive change in attitudes that cascade outwards and touch many, by providing encouragement, hope and support to others less fortunate through this program.’

The ASRC is incredibly grateful to Way of the West for their contribution both to the Foodbank, and for building awareness in the local community.

In May, Foodbank will be running a Winter Warmer Food Drive and is particularly seeking donations of your favourite hearty foods – oats, soups, lentils, potatoes, and anything else you like to eat in the colder months. For more information about how to donate, food and goods drop-off locations and contact details go to www.asrc.org.au/get-involved/donate-food-and-goods/