With the help of children from Tingha Public School, BEST Food Garden are doing their best to remedy this, delivering bags of fresh produce to low income pensioners once a week. 

Student leaders Kymarnie Livermore, Antwaione Jerrard, Amelia Roberts and Mikayla Keys joined BEST social programs co-ordinator Danny Middleton at the Tingha BEST Access Community Centre to pass on the vegetables on Wednesday morning. Students from each year will help sort and deliver the produce once a week.

“Here in Tingha, it’s very hard to get fresh produce. Produce isn’t cheap either, and low-income pensioners, their money has to go a long way,” Danny said.

“If we can assist them and save them $20 a week less, $20 a week they can use to pay utilities or something like that.”

Patricia Connors and Beryl Madden were very grateful for the little bit extra they now have each week, and the saved time and effort on travelling to Inverell for groceries.

Mary Connors acknowledged that a simple trip into town for vegetables could be too much for some.

“Some people can’t get in, and some people can. Some people haven’t got their own vehicle,” she said.

Elizabeth Connors, who lives in Inverell with her daughter, couldn’t contain her smile when she talked about the difference the deliveries made.

“It’s one of the best things that could have happened to us,” she said.

The children were all too happy to help.

“It’s really good and it’s just helping out the community. And it’s fun. You get to meet some of the Elders,” Mikayla said. As close relatives to the Elders, several students will also benefit from the program.

“The food garden’s all about growing a stronger community; a more socially inclusive community where together we can look after our own. By incorporating the kids at grassroots levels, it gives them a bit of responsibility and a bit of buy-in to the activity, and makes them proud,” Danny said.