The Open Hands Neighbourhood, a community service enterprise in Pallara that provides cost-of-living assistance to over 600 households weekly, has significantly expanded its operations thanks to support from Carinity.
The Open Hands Neighbourhood Marketplace, operated by The House of Prayer, has unveiled a larger shopfront for its food relief program. The marketplace at 318 Ritchie Road offers discounted food and groceries—up to 75 percent off retail prices—and free food hampers to refugees, migrants, individuals, and families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Enhanced capacity to meet growing demand
Funding from Carinity’s Collaborative Community Projects has enabled the installation of a new demountable building, housing a larger shop with a wider range of grocery products. Sherifaye Kargbo from The House of Prayer stated that the new marketplace is double the size of the previous site, which began assisting people in need in 2020 as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, the number of people supported by Open Hands Neighbourhood Marketplace each week has increased fivefold, with people travelling from as far away as Bundaberg, Morayfield, and the Gold Coast to receive assistance.
Addressing the Cost-of-Living Crisis
The rising cost of living has led to a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking assistance, with 75% more households needing help each week over the past 18 months.
Elders from The House of Prayer and Leeann Enoch, a State Member for Algester, officially opened the new Open Hands Neighbourhood Marketplace shopfront.
Enoch emphasised the importance of Open Hands in providing essential support and food relief to individuals and families and how the new shopfront will enable them to continue their community support in a safe and supportive environment.
The marketplace operates from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
Published Date 04-September-2024