Larder closes a vital door

Some of the community’s poorest members could be left scavenging for food following the closure of the Luncheon Club’s Larder program.

The Larder has provided food and essential items to those in need for the past 10 years, giving up to 25 dollars’ worth of much-needed sustenance a week to each client.

But a lack of funding will see the program shut from this week.

Long-time Larder organiser and Luncheon Club founder Carole Ann King said the program had aimed to make sure no one went without the vital necessities.

We buy $2,000 worth of basic items each week from cereal and breads to pasta and rice, King told Sydney Star Observer.

We make sure everyone has toilet paper and toothpaste. We also work with social workers and provide home delivery to HIV/AIDS pensioners who have just got out hospital.

King said the closure would leave an emotional as well as a financial gap in the community.

But with Gay Matchmaker and Manacle the service’s only sponsors, the organisation could no longer afford to provide the Larder’s services as well as its weekly Luncheon Club lunches.

It was devastating to see the look of disappointment on the clients’ faces when I told them about the closure, but I had no choice, King said.

Many people are going to find it really hard to support themselves with the high cost of their medications.

On average the service supports about forty-five people a week. They would now need to rely on other charities, King said.

The HIV/AIDS community needs us to survive. We try to bring dignity to our clients. It’s really hard being HIV-positive and living off the pension, she said.

We need to support our brothers and sisters and make sure they get the life they deserve.

The Luncheon Club’s free lunches will continue to be served on Mondays from noon at the Gordon Ibbett Community Centre, 77 Kellick St, Waterloo.

To make donations call Carole Ann King on 0416 040 064 or visit the website www.luncheonclub.org.au for more details.