The economic impact of COVID-19 on people’s lives is a moving target and one the government is attempting to wrap its head around with schemes like JobKeeper.
But one group of people that is not on the governments to do list when it comes to providing material support is asylum seekers many of whom are not eligible to work or to receive government payments, relying instead on the generosity of strangers.
Their plight is one that has been taken up by food delivery service EASI and third generation Australian farmer, Catherine Velisha.
The two businesses teamed up to deliver fresh and takeaway food to Australian households as social isolation took hold and delivery times for fresh food grew, but were concerned at the lack of assistance for those not able to avail themselves of government economic assistance and decided to deliver free fresh food to asylum seekers.
Working with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Melbourne, EASI and Velisha Farms will be donating 50 Harvest boxes of fresh food to ASRC who will then be using their network of volunteers to distribute food to individual houses.
‘We felt a responsibility as a food delivery service to help feed those in need during this difficult period,’ said Kitty Lu, National Account Manager at EASI.
‘There are a lot of groups that need help, and EASI is doing what it can to help those not eligible for government assistance and hope others can do the same.’
It’s a sentiment echoed by Catherine Velisha who employs a lot of refugees, provides free ESL classes to them, and has a career promotion system in place for her workforce.
‘I’m a third generation farmer but also third generation migrant myself. Originally we conceived of this idea to provide fresh food to people’s doors,’ said Ms Velisha.
‘But it’s important that as business leaders ad citizens that in the process of going about our daily lives we don’t let people fall through the cracks,’ said Ms Velisha.
ASRC CEO, Kon Karapanagiotidis is encouraging the same spirit of giving by business and Australian citizens.
‘It’s great to have Australia businesses helping to support some of Australia’s most vulnerable people, many of whom are precluded from paid work and government assistance.
‘And the good news is that consumers who want to support asylum seekers can do so in an ongoing way by ordering these Harvest boxes and donating an extra $5 on top of their order which will be donated to the ASRC,’ Mr Karapanagiotidis said.
EASI will donate ay extra money sent on top of orders to the ASRC and encourages other businesses to set up similar schemes.
‘This is a very easy way to help someone in need and to get some great fresh food delivered to your door the next day,’ said Ms Lu.
