Punya Foundation in collaboration with the Albury Wodonga Multicultural Community Events (AWMCE) organised a 3rd round of COVID-19 food relief distribution program on 30 October 2021. The emergency relief package distribution program was only possible through a grant from Multicultural Communities Program, CALD Communities Taskforce. The distribution took place at the Cube Courtyard in Wodonga despite the worst surge of delta variant in the border community.
The invited guests of the relief package distribution program were Dr Helen Haines, Independent Federal Parliamentarian for Indi, Mr Kevin Poulton, Mayor Wodonga, Councillor Graeme Simfendorfer, Mr Craig McClanahan, the council team leader for compliance, Mr Peter Mathews from General Food Share Manager, Mr Roberta Gaye Baker from the AWECC, Dr Penny Vine from the Murry Valley Sanctuary Refugee Group, Ms Josie Maxwell from the FACAW and representatives of the police department.
Observing social distancing and using personal protective equipments, the relief distribution program attracted multicultural communities; their origin being India, Congo, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, etc. The volunteers of AWMCE and local communities reached out the relief packages to those families who were then in quarantine.
Despite restrictions and challenges in regional Victoria, Wodonga Indian Grocery & Snacks supplied packages. Each package consisted of rice, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, face masks, noodles, cornflakes, biscuits, etc.
Punya Foundation thanks Dr Helen Haines for her endeavour to promote CALD Communities. Wodonga city council deserves a special applause for welcoming and supporting migrant communities. Also, the Foundation extends its thanks to AWMCE coordinator Mr Durga Bhattarai and volunteers for coordinating the distribution program, multicultural community leaders, and guests for their kind attendance.
