It needs donations of fresh fruit and vegetables, which these low income families simply can’t afford to buy on their own.

The food bank, which operates out of Bathurst City Community Club (BCCC) every Thursday morning, is open to anyone with a health care card or pension card or a referral from a welfare agency.

It gives low income earners the chance to purchase food at a heavily discounted rate.

Rebecca Mathie and Michelle Bawden from the BCCC, who run the food bank, said they recently received feedback from clients who asked if it were possible to get more fresh fruit and vegetables.

They said food banks in Orange and Cowra received similar requests and put out a call to the community asking for donations.

They are hoping there are people with backyard gardens who have excess fruit and vegetables which they might consider donating to the food bank.

“Often people might say ‘have a couple of tomato bushes which produced a heap of tomatoes at once’ and they don’t want them to go to waste,” Ms Mathie said.

“We would love them to come down and donate any excess they have.” 

Ms Mathie said the clients are very thankful for the opportunity to be able to buy items they couldn’t otherwise afford.

“For many people the food bank allows them to save and pay for bills, or get things for their kids for school, or buy luxury items like toothpaste that they otherwise couldn’t afford.”

She said anyone able to donate fresh fruit or vegetables can do so by dropping them off at the BCCC (in William Street, opposite Red Rooster) during business hours on Wednesday or between 8.30am and 9.30am on Thursday.

Bathurst Food Bank runs every Thursday from the Bathurst City Community Club from 9am until midday.

Registered participants can buy 11 items for $15, 22 items for $25, 33 items for $33 or 50 items for $55. Vegetables, fruit and bread are provided for free.

For more information, call 6331 3187.