Food trailer to help people hit by perfect social storm

Coffs Harbour has been savaged by a perfect social storm, rising rents, skyrocketing cost-of- living and people struggling to meet their mortgage repayments, not to mention recent floods, fires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

PAYCE Foundation Director Will Morgan hands over the trailer keys to Major Andrew van Gaalen

Ironically, major infrastructure projects, including the Coffs Harbour road bypass are putting pressure on social services, as workers look for long-term housing.

The Salvation Army at Coffs Harbour is finding people turning up at their doorstep they have never helped before.

The PAYCE Foundation, which has had a long association with the Salvation Army in the town, was keen to help.

The Salvation Army had part-time access to a food trailer which was often commandeered for emergency work.

More recently, the trailer was needed for major floods and the Salvation Army Coffs Harbour has been left searching for a replacement.

The PAYCE Foundation was happy to oblige, donating a retro-style food trailer that can deliver food and help where it is needed.
PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said the Salvation Army did an outstanding job assisting people in the local community.

“We have had a long association with the Salvation Army, and we were more than happy to assist with the donation of the food trailer which most importantly will ensure they can bring the support to where it is most needed.”

“The level of homelessness in Coffs Harbour is alarming and it only appears to be getting worse.”

People living in cars and tents is now, sadly, a familiar sight.

The distinctive trailer will be used to deliver food and support at hot spots around the town, and in emergency events.

It is a commercial-grade food trailer with extensive cooking facilities and a coffee machine.

Salvation Army Major Andrew van Gaalen said the donation was greatly appreciated and would allow the organisation to help many people in urgent need.

“We had been looking to run a mobile service for sometime, COVID, the fires and floods changed everything here,” he said.

“We want to target those people who are really missing out on support.”

Major Van Gaalen said the Salvation Army was looking for corporate sponsors to help with the new mobile service.