Volunteers at Horseshoe Bend Community Group (HBCG) have been left shocked after a large quantity of ripened vegetables were stolen from a community garden.
President Cynthia Frain said the theft was “disheartening”.
“It’s not a community garden in the sense that people can just come and help themselves, especially when volunteers give so much of their time to get the place up and running,” she said.
“It’s not in the spirit of what we’re trying to do.”
HBCG volunteers arrived at the garden for a harvesting working bee event on Sunday 15 February to find the produce gone.
The community group regularly gives to local charities and had intended to donate the produce to Helping Hands Mission and the Sunshine Salvation Army.
“We’ve donated over 1000 kilograms in produce to Helping Hands and the Salvos,” Ms Frain said.
“We estimated that we had enough produce there to donate substantial amounts. When we got there on Sunday, we realised a lot of the vegetables we’d seen … that week had been picked.”
While there’s usually somebody at the site watering everyday, Ms Frain said policing the community garden is a difficult task.
She invited locals who were struggling to afford food to approach HBCG directly for help.
“If you are in need, come and join us or even come and visit us at one of our working bees,” Ms Frain said.
She also recommended struggling residents reach out to Helping Hands Mission and the Salvation Army.
Despite the recent setback, the community group is looking ahead to future projects.
“We continue to grow our garden. We’re currently developing a new section with a sensory garden, a children’s garden and play areas for the children,” Ms Frain said.
She added the group is looking at ways to allow more access for people with disabilities.
HBCG plans to restore some of the buildings on the site for community use too.
“The more people we have involved, the more sustainable the project becomes,” Ms Frain said
The community group, now in its fifth year, is always on the lookout for more volunteers.
Details: facebook.com/hsbcommunitygroup
