During the COVID-19 lockdown for Greater Sydney, please check with the service before attending any venues. Some services that have confirmed availability can be viewed here.
'Food Cupboards'
Free Fresh Food Program, courtesy donations from Rotary, Vinnies, Woolworths & Coles/Second Bite (latter delivered by Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre)
Blackheath (BANC) – delivered on Wednesdays
* frozen home cooked vegetarian meals available anytime
* bread delivered on Monday and Wednesday (free)
* non-perishable food such as pasta, rice, cereal, tinned foods available anytime (free)
Winmalee (WNC) – available weekdays
* milk and other items are usually available to anyone who drops in (depending on fund raising money)
* Winmalee Community Food Cupboard - subsidised food program Fridays 10.30-12.30pm. 10 items for $10, or 15 for $15 (this includes meat, frozen foods, pantry items, animal food etc.)
* food parcels – pre-packed for gluten free/vegetarian/tea +pantry items/coffee + pantry items
* Community Lunch every Monday – 2 course nutritious lunch, Springwood Baptist Church, gold coin donation - closed during COVID-19
* food vouchers - Coles/Woolworths
* vouchers for Kmart-clothing
* Community Garden at back of centre
* Christmas hampers
* also provide financial assistance with Telstra, water, electricity & gas bills
Thrive Family Services, Katoomba – delivered Mon/Wed/Fri
* Emergency Relief cards supplied by Wesley Mission
* food vouchers - Coles/Woolworths (WNC Outreach)
* bread, fruit and vegetables delivered Mon, Wed & Fri (available throughout week) provided by WNC’s Fresh Food program
* limited non-perishable emergency food & toiletries
* Christmas hampers
* utilities assistance – water, electricity, gas and Telstra
Gateway Family Services, Blaxland East
* Free food available, just drop-in – open Tues & Fri; &Thurs am
* Emergency Relief cards supplied by Wesley Mission
* food vouchers - Coles/Woolworths (WNC Outreach)
* IGA Pantry items (packaged & processed food; bread & veg; non-perishables; personal hygiene)
* EAPA vouchers for utility bills (call 02 4720 6500 for appointment)
* Christmas hampers
ACRC Koori Playgroup, Katoomba – delivered Mondays
Pinaroo & Rainbow Playgroups – delivered Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Belong BM – c/- Rotary, non-perishable items available (delivered monthly)
Lawson (MMNC):
* Vinnies have food vouchers available on Thursday 12:30- 3pm
Blaxland (LMNC)
* food vouchers - Coles/Woolworths supplied by WNC Outreach Emergency Relief (by appointment)
Springwood (SNCC) – delivered Thursdays
* also available Thursdays, bread from ‘Bakehouse on Wentworth’ and ‘Bakery Patisserie Schwarz’
* ‘food cupboard’ with non-perishables available every day emergency food relief available weekdays
* emergency food parcels available - leave a message on 4751 3033 or email:
reception@sncc.org.au
The Glue Factory (young people 12-25)
‘Refresh & Refuel’ pack (dependent on donations)
* Refresh: toiletries
* Refuel: easy food items such as noodles, muesli bars, small long-life milk, tin of baked beans or spaghetti
Junction 142 - A joint initiative of Earth Recovery & Uniting Church
A ‘hub’ for people who are homeless or in need, comprising:
* Rescue Food Parcels available 11 am to 1 pm Wed, Thurs and Fri
* Soul Food & Blue Mountains Food Rescue provides prepared meals and serves/distributes to people in need (Community Lunches, Sunday 10:00-2:00 & Tuesday 10.30am-1pm; food parcels available from 1:30pm)
* shower & laundry facilities (& eventually accommodation)
* Village Markets (Fridays & Saturdays from 9:30am till late)
Phone: 0403 923 079
Address: 142 Katoomba Street, Katoomba
https://www.facebook.com/142Junction/
Springwood Baptist Church:
* community lunches (gold coin donation)
* every Monday from 11am-1.30pm
Address: 88 Copps Hill Road, Springwood
Blue Mountains Food Services:
As at 20/7/2020, changes for the CoVID-19 period as follows:
* all community restaurants closed
* all NDIS Cook + Connect group work and one-on-one programmes continuing but under notice as circumstances change
* Ben Roberts Cafe is open for dine in and take away food and drinks - Tuesday to Friday 8am - 2pm, and Saturday 8:30am - 1:30pm. Order: 0434 314 254
* Meals on Wheels is operating as normal with deliveries Tuesday to Friday across the mountains
* Blue Mountains Food Services office hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 - 4:00
www.bmfs.org.au
Phone: 4759 2811
CatholicCare Social Services
* Drop in centre, all free
* fresh food at drop-in centre, every Wednesday
* also dry goods & frozen meals (usually soup) anytime
* financial counselling on Fridays and can help with bills
* Vinnies provide food vouchers (& bill vouchers) every Thurs am
Address: Shop 3, 163 Macquarie Road, Springwood
Wentworth Falls Community Hub (Holy Trinity)
* 8:30-11:30am Fridays during school term
* mobile Community Pantry twice weekly 9:30-10:30am - for $10, fill a bag with $60-70 groceries
* drop-in café (barista coffee), op. shop, harvest workshops
Phone: 0421 600 395/0407 586 329
Address:17 Armstrong St, just off Falls Rd
Holy Trinity Community Hub website
Anglicare, Katoomba (St Hilda’s)
* vouchers for food, rent, power;
Tues to Thurs 10 am to 1 pm
Phone: 4782 9318
Address: St Hilda’s Reception,
68 Katoomba Street (at back of building)
https://www.sthildas.net/anglicare/
Salvation Army, Katoomba
As at 22 Jul 2020:
* Emergency Relief Assessment Team: 1300 371 288
- must book to pick up an assessment card: 0460 816 360
* Moneycare financial counselling
- Clare: 0428 469 942
- Kathy 0447 682 715
- Moneycare Financial Capability Case Worker: Glenda 0435 965 015
* Salvation Army Welfare - 10am to 12.40pm Wed, Thurs Fri - must book an appointment: 0460 816 360
* Food hampers - 12pm to 3pm Mon, Wed and Fri. No need to book
* More substancial food hamper, referral, etc, enquiries: 4782 9251
* Hamper Hotline Upper Blue Mountains Salvos: 0472 656 472
* Breakfast Club - 7.30-8.30am, Mon-Fri - for the homeless, socially isolated & those in need - closed during COVID-19
* Red Shield Family Store - closed during COVID-19
Mon-Fri, 9:00-4:00
Phone: 4782 6683
Address: 37 Waratah Street Katoomba
Salvation Army Blue Mountains website
Church of New Life, Katoomba
Community Solutions:
Wednesdays 12:30-1:00pm
Address: Bureau Park, Barton Street, North Katoomba
St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) Op Shops
* Katoomba
Address; 65-67 Waratah Street, Katoomba
Phone: 4782 2041
Open Mon-Thurs: 9:00-4:30, Fri 9:00-4:00, Sat 10:00-3:00
* Springwood
Address: 272 Macquarie Road, Springwood
Phone: 4751 2271
Open Mon-Thurs: 9:00-4:20, Fri 9:00-4:00; Sat 9:00-4:00
* Blaxland
Address: 132A Great Western Hwy, Blaxland
Phone: 4739 6990
School Breakfast Programs:
* Lawson Public School, via Central BM Rotary - Fridays
* Fusion Blue Mountains conducts Breakfast Clubs at:
. Springwood High School – Tuesday
. Winmalee High School - Wednesday
. Blaxland High School - Thursday
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program in Primary Schools & Early Childhood Education services:
* Blackheath Public School
website
* Hazelbrook Public School
* North Katoomba Public School
* Lawson Public School
* Leura Public School
* Lizzards Pre-school
Community Gardens
Blackheath Community Farm
10am every Sunday
Address: 60 Thirroul Ave, Blackheath
NOT OPEN to public during COVID-19 lockdown period, however food growing tips and recipes for local produce will be shared on website and facebook page.
Blue Mountains Organic Community Garden, Katoomba
https://www.facebook.com/katoombacommunitygarden/
Phone: 0410 262 930
Address: Harold Hodgson Park, 12 Victoria Street Katoomba
Mid-Mountains Community Garden
https://www.facebook.com/Mid-Mountains-Community-Gardens-540530605967083/
Volunteer session every Sat, 9:00-12:00
Address: ‘Kihilla Retreat and Conference Centre’ Queens Road, Lawson
Springwood Community Garden
https://www.facebook.com/SpringwoodCommunityGarden/
Working bees every Wednesday & Saturday mornings from 9.30am, with produce shared.
Address: St Thomas Aquinas/St Columba’s High School, 168 Hawkesbury Road, Springwood
Permaculture
Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute
http://www.bluemountainspermacultureinstitute.com.au/
Permaculture Blue Mountains Meetup
https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/Permaculture-Blue-Mountains-Meetup/
BM Edible Garden Trail - every March
The Edible Garden Trail is a celebration of the myriad ways BM residents are creating food security, saving money and the environment, while enjoying health benefits of home-grown fruit & veg.
https://www.ediblegardentrail.com/
Slow Food BM
Slow Food builds networks between grower & eater, agriculture & market, community & world; and champions good, clean, fair & local food in ways that enhance knowledge, respect &passion.
Phone: 4782 7376
https://www.slowfoodbluemountains.com.au
Growers’/Fresh Food Markets
Springwood Growers’ Market – 4th Sunday of the month
Address: Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub
106 Macquarie Road, Springwood
https://www.facebook.com/Springwood-Growers-Market-703643926408472/
Blackheath Growers’ Market – 2nd Sunday of the month
Address: Blackheath Community Hall, GWH, Blackheath
https://www.blackcastleevents.com.au/
Magpie Markets – 3rd Sunday of the month
Address: Lawson Public School
https://www.facebook.com/magpiemarketslawson/
Glenbrook Rotary Markets – 1st & 3rd Saturday of month
Address: Old Glenbrook Infants’ School, Ross Street, Glenbrook
https://www.facebook.com/glenbrookrotarymarkets
Crop Swap BM
Crop Swap at Springwood Community Garden, every third Saturday of the month from 9.15 for a 9.30 start.
Fresh Organic Produce Delivered
Hartley Harvest - www.hartleyharvest.com.au/
Nourishing Mountains - https://nourishing-mountains-inc.myshopify.com/
Bulk Food Outlets
Blue Mountains Food Co-op, Katoomba
Phone: 4782 5890
Address: Ha’penny Lane, Katoomba
http://bmfoodcoop.org.au/
Lyttleton Stores Co-op, Lawson
Phone: 4759 3478
Address: 1 Badgery Crescent, Lawson
http://www.lyttletonstores.com.au/
The source bulk foods store, Katoomba
Shop 13, Town Centre Arcade,
81-83 Katoomba Street
https://thesourcebulkfoods.com.au/
Copyright Mountains Community Resource Network (MCRN) 2019, on behalf of Blue Mountains Community Interagency
Postal Address: PO Box 512 Lawson NSW 2783 Phone: 02 4759 3599 E-mail: manager@mcrn.org.au