Please note that during COVID-19 restrictions all community lunches, gatherings, etc are not available. Other food service programs are still operating.
'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)
Katoomba (KNC)
* free Community Lunches on the 1st & 2nd Thursdays of month
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:
Changes for the CoVID-19 period as follows:
* all community restaurants closed
* all NDIS Cook + Connect group work and one-on-one programmes closed
* Ben Roberts Cafe is open for take away food and drinks - Tuesday to Friday 8am - 1pm, and Saturday 8:30 - 12:30
* 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
* 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 - 1pm to 3pm Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat. 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