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community relations
" Our purpose at Stockland is to create ' a better way to live ' and this was the perfect opportunity to do just that through supporting such a critical local initiative . Hope Delivery will not only improve the lives of those most vulnerable in our community , but will also offer customers a novel , feel-good option for meal purchases . We ' re proud to curate spaces within our retail assets to best serve our customers and communities , and will continue to evaluate new ways to remix our centers to ensure that we ' re maximizing potential ."
Hope Delivery cooks and boxes the meals , but it also relies on other groups to ensure that its packages get to those who need them most , partners like OzHarvest , a food rescue organization that ' s on the recipient list .
COVID-19 has forced the retail industry to think differently about its shopping centers and consider new ways to utilize space that help make it more of a destination and remain relevant in such a challenged environment .
" Neil and his team have supported OzHarvest since its inception and we ' re thrilled to be part of this project . The impact of COVID-19 [ means we have ] seen many people turning to charities for the first time in their lives , and demand for our services went through the roof at a time when our resources were under pressure ," said founder and CEO , Ronni Kahn AO .
" Hope Delivery is supporting our emergency food relief services by providing around 5,000 cooked meals each week , on top of what we cook at OzHarvest . The meals are individually portioned and made with fresh and nutritious ingredients , providing immediate nourishment for some of the most vulnerable in our community ."
Hope Delivery has a permanent staff of four and counts on the daily support of up to a dozen additional helpers as well as corporate volunteers .
HOLISTIC CARE NEW TENANCY FOCUS
Stockland Shellharbour becomes a go-to place for expectant and new parents in Australia ' s Illawarra ( NSW ) region .
Gidget Foundation Australia and Karitane have hung their shingles side by side at Stockland ' s Shellharbour center . The co-tenancy means that families , particularly new and expectant parents , now have access to specialist services to help them cope with a range of serious issues ( e . g ., perinatal depression and anxiety ) as well as obtain tips on how to deal with elements of their daily routitne , such as sleep and settling , feeding , and handling toddler behavior . Both outreach organizations will operate from the top-level community room and will add to the increasing diversity of the center ' s retail mix .
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Hope Delivery ' s staff and volunteers can now settle into their new routine at Stockland Picadilly .
Left to right : Michelle Abbey , GM of retail , Stockland ; Grainne O ' Loughlin of Karitane ; and Arabella Gibson of the Gidget Foundation .
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