A Launceston food drive has become a lifeline for some of the city's most marginalised groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The COVID-19 Relief drive is helping a range of people including refugees on various visas, asylum seekers, international students who have lost their jobs and for single parents who may not have a financial safety net.
Sunday marked the sixth week the Launceston Refugee Action Group, in partnership with Refugee Communities Association of Australia, have delivered much-needed food packages to people in need.
RCAA chairperson Juma Piri Piri said the idea of a food drive during the pandemic for identified communities first began in Melbourne, before the city's action group reached out and wanted to do something locally to help.
"We did a flyer," he said.
"Then it became very interesting actually, we had a lot of support. I even had people calling and saying 'we would really like to see this continue'.
"It's through the generosity from the Tasmanian community and the people of Launceston. Without their support obviously we wouldn't be able to cover anything like this."
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At the moment the drive is being run through an action group member's home, where volunteers put together the packages and then drop them off each Sunday.
However the group hopes to secure a community space in the near future to ensure the food drive can transform and continue post pandemic.
Mr Piri Piri said the dream would be to find a space that could be transformed into a food bank.
He said the community's generosity allowed the relief drive to reach people who may otherwise not be eligible for government help, such as one university student.
"Last week we helped a PhD candidate, he used to work in a restaurant but since COVID-19 he doesn't have a job," he said.
"He is not on a scholarship, so he is struggling, so for him [the food package] it's like a miracle."
Contact the Launceston Refugee Group on Facebook to donate or volunteer.
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