By Alesha Capone
A group of volunteers who support asylum seekers and refugees in the west and north-western suburbs has been recognised with a Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence.
West Welcome Wagon received the award for Excellence in Community Response and Recovery, from the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
The award was given to acknowledge West Welcome Wagon’s continued support for the community, including the expansion of its Food Program and Emergency Goods Assist project with the RACV, since COVID-19 hit Australia.
West Welcome Wagon chairperson Chris Scerri said the award was significant for the group, which was founded in 2013.
“It’s our highest award, so we are thrilled that the contributions of our volunteers, donors, partners and supporters is recognised,” he said.
Mr Scerri said that before the COVID pandemic began, the organisation – which supports asylum seekers and refugees from Wyndham, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Moonee Valley and as far away as Broadmeadows – was receiving about 10 requests every week for delivery of culturally-appropriate food parcels.
However, after contacting the asylum seekers and refugees in its database to see if they needed help with food during the pandemic, demand skyrocketed.
“We were delivering between 150 to 200 food bundles per week,” Mr Scerri said.
“We were distributing something like seven to eight tonnes of food a month.”
He said West Welcome Wagon was grateful for the support it has received from community groups with food, donations and funding, including the RACV, Wyndham Park Community Centre, Jet Foundation Australia, the state government and Wyndham council.
Mr Scerri said that out of the 870 households on West Welcome Wagon’s database, about 400 are in Brimbank and 220 in Wyndham.
The group’s volunteers collect recycled, good-quality donated items and deliver them to asylum seekers and refugees.
West Welcome Wagon assists its clients with household essentials such as bedroom and kitchen furniture, like beds, tables, couches, heaters and rugs.
The volunteers also hold regular “Reach Out” days, where about 50 to 60 families are invited to attend a community centre to select items they need from donated food, clothing and toys.
Mr Scerri said West Welcome Wagon was looking for more volunteers living in the Wyndham and Brimbank municipalities.
Details: www.westwelcomewagon.org.au or email volunteer@westwelcomewagon.org.au
