A deserving local charity has been awarded a grant to funnel cost-of-living relief into the Penrith community.
WestCare is using Endeavour Energy’s ‘Powering Communities’ grant to provide fortnightly cooked breakfasts for school students and grocery packs for low-income families struggling with rising costs.
WestCare Community Services Director Andrew Paech said he’s very excited and immensely grateful for the funding which will make a world of difference in a time of great need.
“It vitally resources a project that’s very dear to us and vital for our local area and the young families that we engage with,” Paech explained.
“I’m now entering my 12th year of working with WestCare in western Sydney and I’ve not seen a period like this before.
“We noticed it at Christmas time and throughout last year, and the significance of the impact of cost-of-living on local families is quite concerning.”
The not-for-profit has been working closely with school staff across the region, who frequently identify worrying family and home situations.
“Kids are coming to school not eating and often with basic personal hygiene issues, and they’ve been particularly impacted by the rising cost-of-living,” Paech stated.
“This project really aims to deliver something that’s practical and we hope it will provide some meaningful value to the hardest hit, and importantly amplify the hard work being done by these local high school staff members.”
By providing cooked breakfasts and engaging with students at various local high schools, the charity can also provide Essentials Boxes, which include dry goods grocery cartons and basic personal care items, as well as Penrith City Care Kits, which include personal care items.
Paech said this is what WestCare is all about.
“We operate under a mantra that says, ‘Local needs met by local people’,” he said.
This mission clearly left an impression on Endeavour Energy.
“The 2025 Powering Communities grants will support projects that strengthen community resilience, foster inclusivity and address local needs, helping to build a brighter future for those in need,” Endeavour Energy’s Chief Customer and Strategy Officer Leanne Pickering said.
The power company received more than 250 applications for project funding across New South Wales.
“Our committee of advocates rigorously reviewed each application against the grants’ criteria and had the very challenging task of selecting recipients to deliver very important outcomes to help our communities to thrive,” Pickering explained.
“The 2025 recipients demonstrate the power of local initiatives to create positive, lasting change, and we are proud to be part of these efforts.”
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.