4C's (Cardinia Combined Churches Caring) Food bank is a voluntary organisation that aims to reach the needy, disadvantaged, homeless and those in crisis within the Shire of Cardinia.

They aim to provide them with emergency food relief, education, friendship and referral to counselling and advice services if necessary and the NILS (no interest loans to low income people) program.

Cardinia Combined Churches Caring came about from a community need that has traditionally been met by local churches throughout history - feeding the hungry in times of crisis. In early 1996, ministers within the Cardinia Shire had become aware that numbers of needy local residents seeking out food relief had escalated noticeably over the last decade to become a heavy demand on the scarce food resources of individual church food programs. Thus, at that time, a number of the local ministers came together to establish and develop a central food relief service intended to provide consistent, accessible and equitable provision and distribution of emergency food to local residents in crisis.

The establishment of the emergency food relief in 1997 came about with the joint forces of 8 local churches and this has greatly alleviated pressure on the Shire, and today 4C's continues to meet the needs of local shire residents, in an effort to help them over critical periods in their lives.

These 8 local churches consist of the Salvation Army, Cardinia Christian Centre, Pakenham Christian Centre, Pakenham Baptist, Beaconsfield Baptist, Pakenham Uniting Church, Pakenham Anglican Church and St. Patricks Church Pakenham.

4C’s rely on donations to survive, as the centre is a not for profit charity that receives no government assistance, making it necessary to continually fund raise.

They have 40 volunteers on their books to pick up, transport and stock goods.

The centre is open Monday to Friday between the hours of 10.30am to 2.30pm.

Riding the Slog to Sale is an easy way to help in local community needs.

4C’s provides assistance to help improve situations for people and to help them build a better future for their families and themselves.

4C's has a commitment to distribution policies and practices which maintain client dignity and consumer choice, allowing clients choose the foods they need from the food stocks available.

Access to food stocks, includes a private interview in which client information is recorded. Information and referral to our other services is offered, by which clients may make beneficial changes in their lives.

The centre is able to provide clients with canned, dry and cereal products along with pastas, rice, items for children's morning teas, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, bread and personal items.

Most stock is purchased Foodbank/Vic Relief at a discounted prices, from local supermarkets and discount stores or come in as donations from the local community, local schools and the 4C’s community garden.

As an added benefit not only for 4C’s clients, but to any member of the community they have the services of a budget advise person who works one day a week educating people on all areas of budgeting and how to live on limited incomes.

Budget Meals Recipe Books are also provided to clients, which is given in the hope that it will provide education in basic cooking, using a variety of fresh vegetables that are given out.

The centre also operates the NILS program (No Interest LoanS to low income people) for all Centrelink cardholders within the Shire of Pakenham, and who may be in crisis and need to purchase necessary white goods, or have large dental bills or education costs involved in re-entry to the work force.

The scheme allows clients to purchase needed items with a 12 month no interest loan that is paid back fortnightly to the centre via their Centrelink payments.

This enables low income earners to participate in the market place on fair and equitable terms, restoring dignity, self-esteem, giving a degree of empowerment and a vital credit record.

On a daily basis fresh bread donated from Baker's Delight, the evening prior, is handed out to those who need it most.

During the past 24 months 4C’s have developed a community vegetable garden on land that has been lent to the centre.

They grow a variety of fresh vegetables that are distributed to clients on a daily basis.

One of the local schools has classes involved in assisting with this project and children are learning about not only caring for their community but also about worm farms, mulching, sowing and weeding.

Another part of the centre's activities is to provide baby formula to assist those parents that are struggling to purchase formula from other outlets.

At Christmas time hundreds of hampers and toys are distribute to the needy and disadvantaged within the Shire of Pakenham.

Hampers consist of chickens, vegetables, drinks, lollies, bon bons, Christmas biscuits, tinned fruit, milk, and food for several days.

The Berwick Woodworkers have donated hundreds of wooden toys made each year by their marvellous band of volunteers. Gifts donated under the Target Wishing Tree in Pakenham are also well received.

4C’s established a counselling service for clients and the community, with the aim to provide caring and helpful assistance to people attempting to cope with issues in their lives. It also aims to assist them in gaining insight into issues, and developing strategies for coping and working towards restoration of health and well-being.

The Cardinia Shire is made up of a unique mix of residential and rural land areas, covering 1280 square kilometres, and comprising of over 30 townships. The approximate population is 22,000 with a forecasted one of 32,000 by 2010.

Statistics show that the community is predominantly positioned in the lower socio-economic band. The people generally have a lower than average rate of education, leading to a predominance in jobs that are classified as unskilled employment. There is also a high dependence on Centrelink benefits.

A staggering 100 families a week are moving into the Cardinia shire growth corridor, because of the affordability of houses. Many who are moving in are on the lower end of the socio-economic bracket and anecdotal evidence is showing that many are financially overcommitted with both partners needing to work lots of hours to keep up house and car payments. Only one partner needs to loose a job and suddenly the family can not keep up with all the financial commitments.

To further highlight the need in Pakenham the percentage of lone parents is only matched by Cranbourne both at 23%, being 4% over the Melbourne average of 19%. A contributor to this lone parenthood situation is the high incidence of motherhood amongst younger women. This is related to the relatively poor education outcomes for young women in the shire.

4C’s clients are families and individuals living in the shire, who are experiencing a difficulty which leaves them economically disadvantaged and with a need to access emergency food. Referrals are commonly from churches, schools, community health and welfare organisations, the Salvation Army, Centrelink, Windermere, Ways and also informal and self-referrals. The major client groups are the aged, veterans, students, employed and part employed people, disabled, sole parents, families, children, youth and homeless.

4C’s is manned entirely by volunteers from the local community and at present there are approximately 45 volunteers involved in different areas of the centre's work.

These include operation of the centre on a daily basis, working at the community vegetable garden, shopping for centre, cleaning of centre, picking up bread on a rostered basis nightly from Baker's Delight, fundraising and being on the Committee of Management.

Our Budget Advice person works one day a week for a small remuneration and our Counsellor donates most of his time to our clients for sometimes a very small fee.

As 4C’s is a not for profit charity that receives no government assistance it is necessary for them to continually fund raise.

Fundraising is done by writing submissions into trust funds on a monthly basis, holding “Can A Uniform Days” at local schools, where children come out of school uniform for the day at the cost of a can of food, seeking donations from local businesses and community groups, churches, and individuals in the community and by holding 2 major fund raising events during the year.

One of these is the Antique Fair that is held mid year at the Pakenham Racecourse and the other event is the annual Slog to Sale.

This year 4C’s needed to raise at least $60,000 keep the centre servicing the needy and disadvantaged within the Shire of Cardinia.

All services are offered free of charge to their clientele, and the community.

The Slog to Sale is a proud supporter of this vital community service.