08 Dec A Gateway to good
IBN Private welcomes opportunities to support our clients in their endeavours to do good things in their local communities. We are proud to have assisted a client to help a food rescue group on the Sunshine Coast to keep and expand its home.
Our clients Peter Byrnes and Jason Dwyer purchased a commercial property in the heart of Caloundra West in 2020 that was home to a food rescue charity. IBN Private was able to assist with initial finance via one of our private investors and later with refinancing to bank funding.
The property’s tenant, Gateway Care Food Distribution, rescues 20,000kg of food each week from Foodbank Queensland, Second Bite, local supermarkets, and primary producers for families in need on the Sunshine Coast.
Families needing Gateway Care’s support can purchase food items at significantly discounted prices and can enjoy the social interaction with volunteers and staff who are also able to share information about available support services.
Gateway Care’s Finance Director Tom Lew says the charity is grateful for its positive connection with landlords Peter and Jason, and for the private funding support IBN Private provided to the business partners that allowed them to purchase and grow the site.
“Gateway Care’s activities have grown exponentially in the past two years with a 50 per cent increase in demand for our services to help put food on tables,’’ Tom says.
“We are now supporting more than 1,600 welfare recipient families on the Sunshine Coast with affordable groceries and food. These families are really doing it tough.
“IBN Private helped Peter source private funding for vital improvements to our existing building and to purchase an adjoining building. This has allowed the charity to grow our operations to meet the need in our community.’’
Landlord Peter says he and wife Anthea appreciate the ongoing support of IBN Private’s Paul O’Rourke, who has brokered several funding opportunities for them to acquire, develop and retain properties on the Coast since 2019.
“The opportunity to acquire the adjoining building to the Gateway Care’s site had to be acted upon very quickly with such a high demand for light industrial sheds on the Sunshine Coast and this is where our relationship with IBN Private enabled us to purchase swiftly,’’ Peter says.
“Having recently received full Sunshine Coast Council support, Gateway Care are now expanding their operations so to assist even more people in need and are actively seeking fundraising support.”
Gateway Care operates five days a week at 11 Helen Street, Caloundra West, with the support of volunteers and staff members.
To show your support this festive season, they are in need of donated non-perishable items for Christmas hampers, or you can purchase a $30 Random Acts of Community Kindness voucher for struggling families to buy groceries.
They also welcome volunteers who can give their time. Go to www.gatewaycare.org.au for more information.