Food is the most basic need in Canberra, says Mohammed Ali, former Canberra Citizen of the Year and founder and chair of charity HelpingACT. Demand for food assistance has doubled since last year, and many Canberrans struggle to put food on the table.
“Poverty is a curse, especially in Canberra, which is a very affluent city,” Mr Ali said.
HelpingACT will hold its annual JuneroCity fundraising dinner at the Taj Agra on Tuesday 25 June. Those present will enjoy a three-course Indian meal, learn about the charity’s activities and achievements, and have the chance to contribute to its efforts.
All monies raised will go to ensure that no-one in Canberra sleeps hungry.
Tickets cost $50, and HelpingACT hopes to raise $10,000 – but anything more will be very welcome, Mr Ali said.
Like his boxing namesake, Mr Ali is a champion. The charity assists various groups in need, including the working poor, homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers, students, and victims of domestic abuse.
For more than a year, HelpingACT has spent $1,480 each week on food for those it helps. Ninety per cent of the charity’s funding comes from donations, the rest from government grants.
Last year, HelpingACT was donated $100,000, 85 per cent of which was spent on food – a 30 to 35 per cent increase over 2022.
This year, Mr Ali expects HelpingACT will easily spend more than $100,000 on food – a sign that “the situation is silently worsening”.
A couple of years ago, Mr Ali said, one in 10 people needed help; the ‘flip side of the coin’ was that nine Canberrans could help that one person, without difficulty. Now, the ratio is two people in need to eight who can help.
To put it another way: once, seven or eight families would turn up to get food; now, at least 12, sometimes as many as 18 families come each week.
“Everyone thought that once COVID is officially over, then life would be back to normal,” Mr Ali said. “It never happened.”
Nevertheless, Mr Ali says, “everyone is resolved that no, Canberra cannot be in that ditch”. While the number of people in need might have doubled, four-fifths of the ACT’s population, he believes, can and should help those less fortunate.
“I know that we can do it, and help HelpingACT to realise the dream of a mother who is struggling to put in food in a lunchbox for school tomorrow, or any family who is struggling.”
HelpingACT has a team of almost 50 volunteers: a dozen pack bags of long-life food and fresh produce on Saturdays and deliver some to disabled or vulnerable people who cannot come themselves to pick up the food. During the week, others might deliver food to schools, or buy second-hand white goods and furniture for victims of domestic violence.
Homelessness is one of HelpingACT’s chief concerns. The charity works closely with the Early Morning Centre, the community hub for homeless people in Northbourne Avenue. It holds barbecue dinners there once (soon to be twice) a month and Feel Good Feed lunches.
“The weather has become less kind every year, and given the harshness of the winter, your heart bleeds when you see all those faces who come into the Early Morning Centre,” Mr Ali said. “They have now become almost friends; when you see them at night, sleeping rough, you want to really help.”
HelpingACT also holds barbecues in Kippax and will extend its operations to south Canberra and Queanbeyan; he wants to set up permanent food banks in the south and Belconnen. The Early Morning Centre cares for homeless people in Civic; but what, Mr Ali asks, of those in the deep south or deep Belconnen? Those regions, he believes, need a similar service. In Kambah, he fears, there is a belt of people who are on the verge of homelessness.
Homelessness is the worst position anyone can expect to be in, Mr Ali says, and he believes homelessness is getting worse; he notices new people coming to the Early Morning Centre.
“Under this stressful situation, we have to help homeless people more and more, so that they can feel that we are together with them in solidarity,” Mr Ali said.
He would like the government and developers to build apartment buildings for homeless people; the number on the street each night does not exceed 200, so he believes this is feasible.
“They should be provided dignified living and long-term ways to address that situation,” Mr Ali said.
In the meantime, HelpingACT buys winter protective clothing (beanies, gloves, and socks) for people on the street, and pays for their dental treatment, through an arrangement with the Early Morning Centre.
HelpingACT assists the 500-odd asylum seekers and refugees in the ACT. Every week, the charity restocks the food pantry at Companion House, a community organisation assisting survivors of torture and trauma. Many refugees are Muslim; during Ramadan, HelpingACT holds fast-breaking iftar dinners and donates food hampers and clothing for Eid celebrations. This week, too, marks Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), when Muslims distribute meat to the poor; HelpingACT, supported by the Australian Malaysian Association and individual families, gave meat to refugees and asylum seeker families. The charity also gives white goods or kitchen items to refugees and asylum seekers moving into new homes, and sporting equipment to young people.
Sadly, Mr Ali says, some in the ACT are among the 3,000 refugee and asylum seeker families across Australia hoping to be granted permanent residency; the uncertainty of their situation causes emotional distress. Only once their cases are settled will they feel comfortable planning their lives in Australia.
“If anything could be done for these [people] immediately, that would save lots of mental health issues,” Mr Ali said. “Plus, these people would be able to visit their families back in their countries of origin; some of them have been waiting for more than 12 years.”
HelpingACT runs breakfast programs at five schools and a college, to more than 250 students.
“Some students come to college and without food; they can’t afford to have lunch,” Mr Ali said. “These students are from families who are struggling, and these families also might need food… We will never say no to anyone.”
Anyone who needs food assistance can contact HelpingACT on 0404 947 260, or via their website: helpingact.org/help.
Canberrans, Mr Ali says, have been wonderfully generous in supporting his charity’s work and helping to make their dream “that nobody struggles for food, nobody sleeps hungry in Canberra” come true.
“That mission that no-one sleeps hungry is a bit far away – but we are approaching that,” Mr Ali said. “The only way we can approach is by keeping a constant flow of donations.”
Mr Ali implored Canberrans to consider making a tax-deductible donation to HelpingACT via helpingact.org/donate.
“Don’t feel too pressured,” Mr Ali said. “Whatever you can give, even a single dollar, is more than enough. We don’t want $200 or $300 [donations]. My dream is to have 4,000 families in Canberra donating just $10 a month… We will certainly be better off, as far as the money situation is concerned, to realise the dreams and expectations of people who are vulnerable in Canberra.”
HelpingACT’s Annual JuneroCity Fundraising Dinner, Tuesday 25 June, 6pm, at the Taj Agra Restaurant, Dickson. Tickets: $50. To register, visit events.humanitix.com/helpingact-junerocity-2024.
