Due to structural and safety concerns, caused by termite damage, Waminda Community House will remain closed — for now.
This is a challenging time for our organisation and the community; however, it is also an opportunity for us to grow and evolve.
We are currently working on securing a temporary site in the area so that we can resume some of our programs and activities and serve our community.
The demands on Waminda’s Thursday Food Relief and emergency at-call food programs were continuing to rise before our closure.
Prior to closing our site, on May 30, we gave away 148kg of food to 23 families. Also on this day, we shared a free lunch with around 12 people.
Our free produce table at the front of the community house also turns over a number of kilos of fresh produce and bread every week.
While we aren’t picking up our monthly Shepparton FoodShare supplies, the weekly supermarket donation is going to the Salvos, who operate their food share on a Monday and a Thursday from 10am to 1pm at 85 Bridge St West, Benalla.
The Vinnies Welfare Centre can also help; people can leave a message on 0409 603 164. Both are wonderful organisations, doing fantastic work.
Prior also to our closure we had been running kids’ cooking lessons, girls’ dance classes, the Healthy Lunchbox sessions for adults, providing space for mental health support groups, BRCC supported playgroup, Centrelink engagement, immunisations and carers’ groups, as well as helping individuals through advocacy and referral.
The Waminda Link Up Program at the CWA Hall is ongoing during school terms on Wednesdays.
The program provides a casual meeting place, between 10am and 11am for anyone in the community to come together to enjoy a chat. We have morning tea on offer at just $6, which will buy you a barista-made coffee, cup of tea or hot chocolate (and a cake) made by the team from Benalla Flexi Learning.
Stay on if you like for the Creative Corner at 11am, where we are currently creating some artwork for our new site.
This group welcomes experienced and newbies to the space. If you have creative skills you would like to share, please contact Leeane at Waminda so we can pop it into our schedule for next term.
We try to keep sessions free or low cost, with funding from the Freemasons Foundation.
Waminda Community House will celebrate its 40th birthday this year.
We are confident that we will be restarting many of our groups and activities, including free tax help, and celebrating this milestone together.
On behalf of myself and the Waminda board of management we extend a big thanks for the co-operation and support of council, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, other organisations and of course to our volunteers and community for their understanding and kindness during this time.
To contact Waminda, please email wwaminda@bigpond.net.au or phone 0491 630 213.
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