By Dongyun Kwon
In the middle of the cost-of-living crisis, a Healesville-based charity and welfare organisation hopes its programs’ benefits reach more community members.
Healesville Interchurch Community Care Incorporated (HICCI) mainly runs three programs for people in need; emergency relief, transport, and community meals.
Emergency relief manager Sheree Laumen said HICCI helps out with groceries, medical expenses, clothing and bill payments through its emergency relief program.
“The primary focus for emergency relief is to make sure people have enough food to eat,” she said.
The transport service helps older community members, people living with a disability and their carers to attend medical appointments or social activities.
Transport coordinator Brenda Monk said the transport program aims to help people live independently and stay well connected.
“It’s to keep our community moving, active and being able to stay at home, not relying on living in aged care,” she said.
“Being in My Aged Care is a priority for it. We need to make sure people are registered with My Aged Care to be able to use the service.
“The whole program is run through volunteers, so we’re very heavily reliant on the goodwill of our drivers, who run through pretty stringent tests to be able to become a volunteer. They need to do police checks and all of those things.”
“(The volunteer drivers) put lots of effort into it and get nothing for it. We really appreciate their efforts, and we’re always looking out for more drivers.”
Community meal service Dinner at Darron’s opens to all community members from 5.30pm every Tuesday at Darron Honey Centre located behind Healesville Uniting Church.
“We are looking for more team members as well to help with cooking and preparing meals,” Ms Laumen said.
For more information about the services, registering to volunteer for HICCI or to donate, call 5911 6000 or visit HICCI’s website, hicci.org.au
“We’d like to meet people (in need) in person but they can still come through the website or give us a call,” Ms Laumen said.
“Everything’s private and confidential.
“We have a lot of food to share, and we’d like some people to come in and receive it.”
