A Kyneton charity which feeds over 600 people every month had a community open afternoon in August, celebrating its new and improved space.
The Kindness Collective Kyneton rebranded from the former Kyneton Caring Community, expanding their foodbank and kitchen, thanks to funding from Macedon Ranges council, a Felton Bequest grant, Jellis Craig real estate and a generous donation from the late Les Russell.
Kindness Collective operations manager Kerryn Wildenburg said the service is busier than ever, with demand doubling in the past 12 months.
“We’ve got our opshop out the front, which is our main source of funding, to fund our foodbank out the back,” Ms Wildenburg said.
“We have a free foodbank and we feed over 600 people every month. We’ve just launched our soup kitchen and drop in space, so people can come and get a free hot meal during the day.
“At the moment we’re doing about 150 meals during the week, but we’re hoping to expand that to five days in the coming months.”
The service offers a range of support, from the foodbank and opshop, to the newly-launched soup kitchen and drop in space, to crisis relief.
Ms Wildenburg said it was a “privilege” to be part of such a generous community, and encouraged people to donate.
“It’s beautiful to have so many people getting on board and supporting the people in our community who are doing it a bit tough,” she said.
Macedon Ranges councillor Janet Pearce attended the open day, and in a Facebook post said it had come “a long way” since she first visited in 2016.
“How happy we all were today to see the progress. Our thanks to the wonderful work of devoted volunteers and staff,” she said
Details: www.tkc.org.au/ .
