FOOD HAMPERS will be packed into vans on Friday and delivered to vulnerable locals, as a surprise to bring a bit of "sunshine" into what has been a hard time for many.
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Oxley Community Transport and Liberty Foodcare have teamed up to put packages together and get them out to members of the community.
Oxley Community Transport CEO Sharon Tibbs said the pandemic had impacted Tamworth residents, both financially and emotionally.
"With COVID and how it's affected people, a lot of people don't have ability to shop online and they don't want to go to the shops, or it may just be financial hardship," she said.
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"We have so many clients who are isolated ... we've had to put a limit on social outings and we've had to put in social distancing in our buses and our clients just don't get a chance to mix with the people they normally would," she said.
The hampers are packed with kitchen essentials like Vegemite, tea, coffee and pasta, along with other food.
They're destined for households across the city, and Ms Tibbs said each hamper should be able to "feed a family".
It's the first time Oxley Community Transport has taken on a project like this, and she hopes it's the start of a partnership with more food drops to come.
Liberty Foodcare approached the company last week, and Ms Tibbs said the workers, who are set to deliver the hampers on Friday, are excited.
"The office staff are really keen to put names to faces and go and deliver to the clients tomorrow," she said.
"The girls are so excited, they've been counting down the days to Friday when they get to go out and meet the clients and give them a little bit of sunshine.
"I think there'll be a lot of tears actually, people will be so grateful, as long as they don't see it as charity ... because it's not a hand out, it's a helping hand and a hand up."
There are about 30 local households on the delivery list on Friday, chosen from the service's clients, based on need.
But, they don't know the food is coming.
"It makes you feel so proud and honoured to be a part of a community that does things like this," Ms Tibbs said.
She said the team wants the packages to say: "We thought of you, and we'd like to give you something to make you feel good".
The project got off the ground after Liberty Foodcare, which is part of the Liberty Church in Tamworth, was awarded a grant to give food hampers to local residents who need a bit of a hand.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
