Gallery: ‘They made it happen'Million-dollar dream becomes reality for Nambour charity
The Everyday Foundation’s Jonathan Gullo, Karen Gullo, Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki, Nicklin MP Marty Hunt and Chloe Gullo celebrate the opening of the organisation’s new Currie Street facility. Pictures: Tracey Beard Photographer.
A vision once sketched out inside the shell of an empty Nambour building has become a multi-million-dollar community facility, giving The Everyday Foundation significantly more room to support Sunshine Coast families doing it tough.
The Foundation officially opened its new home at 73-79 Currie Street on Thursday, September 10, bringing its low-cost supermarket, Emergency Relief program, meal-support kitchen and social-enterprise café together under one roof.
Anyone can shop at the supermarket and café, with money spent going back into programs supporting people experiencing food and financial insecurity.
Nicklin MP Marty Hunt, who cut the ribbon alongside Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki and Foundation directors Jonathan and Chloe Gullo, recalled first visiting the building several years ago when it was little more than a shell.
“They outlined their dream to me. And they said, ‘Marty, we need a million dollars. We’re a million short.’ So I took it to the treasurer,” Mr Hunt said.
The $1 million was subsequently secured as an election commitment, but Mr Hunt admitted he initially doubted whether the ambitious project could be delivered for that amount.
“To be honest with you, I said a million dollars, they’re not going to make it. They can’t possibly do what they’re telling me they want to do for a million dollars,” he said.
“But they made it happen. It was a remarkable effort that they could stretch a million dollars to achieve this and provide such a long-lasting commitment to this community.”
Mr Hunt said the new centre demonstrated the value of government partnering with grassroots organisations.
“The government contributed to the bricks and mortar, but this community facility is more than bricks and mortar. It’s built by community,” he said.
Foundation director Jonathan Gullo said the opening marked a major new chapter after more than 20 years serving the community.
“This building means we finally have the room to grow alongside the increasing need for food relief on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Gullo said.
“We would like to thank the Crisafulli Government for their generous $1 million contribution to this project. It's an investment that will support this community for decades to come.”
The Currie Street centre consolidates services previously operating from separate sites, including the supermarket and Emergency Relief program from Howard Street and the Daily Bread meal-support kitchen from a local church.
For more information visit everyday.org.au.
