The Salvo's have been helping the people of Lismore since the 1890s when the first building was built in Molesworth Street. Some 130 years later, the Salvos are still helping those Lismore residents that need help and for the last week and a half, it is in the form of a new Food Pantry at their church in Goonellabah.

Captain Philip Sutcliffe told the Lismore App, the Northern Rivers Salvos had been partnering with another organisation that was driving from the CBD and setting up a Mobile Food Pantry each week in the driveway in Goonellabah as well as other locations in the region.

"But unfortunately, at the end of the financial year, they had their funding not renewed. We had built up a group of regular community members who were coming in and shopping here. We didn't want to have a stop in service for the food pantry that was operating out of here in Goonellabah."

"Taking that on has also meant that because it's now a permanent location, not a mobile pantry, we're actually able to expand it and grow the product range that we actually carry here as a food pantry."

The Salvos have always offered free goods for people in emergency situations. This was being combined with the Mobile Food Pantry and now forms a part of the permanent Food Pantry that is run on Thursdays between 9:30am and 11:30am. These hours will be increased as demand increases.

"Over the coming weeks, as we sort of just monitor need and things like that, we want to expand to the Tuesday mornings as well. So that'll be down the track and we'll put info out on our social media channels when that happens."

"There's certainly a need around here, we've found in our community that in the Goonellabah plateau, there's a lot of people who don't have transport and whilst the public transport is getting better, it's hard for them to get down into town and access food pantries there. So, we saw a need to expand up into this region and that's why we've sort of taken it over and expanded."

Captain Sutcliffe said the need for help has risen 30% in the last six months as the cost of living increases.

"There's a growing need in our communities. Those accessing our everyday financial assistance call line, where people can ring our phone assessment line and get help in the form of money on a universal life postcard that can be used for chemists or fuel or general groceries, has risen by 30% and out of that 30% at least half of them are dual income families."

"So by the time they're paying the mortgage and electricity and gas and all those other things, they're left with almost nothing at the end of the week to then buy food and if an unexpected expense pops up they've got nothing left to be able to pay for that unexpected expense."

"Certainly in our region the compounded effect of those that have been renting while they try and rebuild their flooded homes and then with everything else that's going on with reconstruction and buybacks and all those other things. There's just this compounding effect that is hitting people hard."

During the week, the Salvos put in an order from Food Bank which includes fresh fruit and vegetables, of course, the type varies on the season and the price.

"This week, we've got pumpkins and bananas and oranges," Captain Sutcliffe explains, "Every week's a little bit different just depending on what is available from our food bank."

"In terms of the rest of the range that is available, we've been able to expand the range of staples that we have in the low-cost format and then also add in toiletries and other essentials like laundry powder or dishwashing liquid, items that are a staple in a household but are expensive. We can actually get more products on the shelves to help people out every week."

As this is only the second week for the Salvos new permanent Food Pantry, they will be expanding the range of items each week as people request them.

A lot of people feel some shame in approaching the Salvos for help, Captain Sutcliffe said that if you do walk through their doors there is absolutely no judgement, they are only there to provide support.

"The best thing that you can do is come in early because we can actually put a lot more things in place and provide a lot more support. If you've already got the debt collectors and other people knocking on your door, it's a lot harder for us to help but there are certainly things that we can do."

"If you come to us early we can put a lot of supports and wraparound services in there so that you don't get to the point where you've got debt collectors knocking on your door."

As well as a 30% increase in financial support, Captain Sutcliffe said there was a growing homeless population in our community.

"For those that don't have a regular roof over their head, we are offering laundry services and also hot showers. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, when we're open, if you're in your car sleeping or sleeping rough in our community or don't have access to those facilities, come up and see us and we're more than happy to put a load of laundry on and walk it through the dryer. Or, if you need a hot shower, come and see us so you can get yourself cleaned up, it's just a nice thing that makes people feel good.

"So, there are a couple of things that we're offering now, which again, is something that hasn't been offered up here (in Goonellabah) and it's available for anyone in the Lismore region if they need it."

The Salvos Food Pantry can be found at 30 Cambridge Road, Goonellabah. It is open Thursdays between 9:30am and 11:30am.