The Chittering Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA) are looking for more volunteers to help them give back to the community through their Orange Project.
What initially started as a fundraising project for the association now has much bigger impact on the wider community. After picking and selling fruit from orchards around the region, that would have otherwise been left rot, they discovered their fruit was heading to some of the neediest pockets in Perth.
“People were buying the oranges from us and donating them to refuges, homeless people and kindergartens,” said Helen Scott, treasurer of the CRRA. “That’s where it started to form more of a community project.”
The group ramped up their efforts and have managed to distribute an astounding 3500 kilograms of oranges to various charities around Perth. It is an amazing effort for a small group of volunteers.
“I think if you’re blessed with good fortune, you should spread it to other people who — through no fault of their own — are placed in positions where it’s quite difficult. Especially at this time of the year,” said Helen.
Christmas certainly is a time to give where you can, especially as the Salvation Army released new figures last week predicting that 15.5% of Australian adults are likely to contact a charity for assistance this festive season, for necessities such as food and utilities.
CRRA are also assembling hampers of essentials for distribution this Christmas and are in the process of establishing a food cupboard to be housed at the Muchea Sports Hall. This will be stocked with non-perishable items that community members under financial pressure can access when needed. They hope to establish similar initiatives in Lower Chittering and Bindoon in the future.
“Chittering Ratepayers are not just sitting on our hands. We are physically out there in the community doing something,” said Helen.
In order to maintain this kind of momentum, they need some more help. If you can spare some time to help pick and pack the fruit, assemble hampers, assist with deliveries or with sourcing more orchards that may have fruit going to waste, please contact Helen on 0400 433 068 or Josie on 0417 187 722. The CRRA will be conducting their next round of fruit picking on 27 December.
