Stepping into her second year as manager, Krystal Russell has a big year ahead of her at the Seymour and District Community House in 2025.
Photo by
Billie Davern
An exciting year lies ahead for the Seymour and District Community House, which has just received a Food Relief grant from the Department of Family, Fairness and Housing.
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The not-for-profit received more than $42,000, which will go towards the proposed project Harvest Hub.
The Harvest Hub is set to be located within a six-metre-long shipping container based in the Community House back car park.
SDCH Manager Krystal Russell is aiming to start by opening the hub for three days a week to distribute food to community members who need it most. Eventually it is hoped the hub will be open for five days out of seven.
Alongside the hub, SDCH will be opening up its community garden this year, which is located on Anglesey St.
Ms Russell said SDCH aimed to address and fulfil the need for vital resources in Seymour.
“We have a dire need for food relief in the town of Seymour and the statistics are quite scary really,” Ms Russell said.
“We just wanted to meet that need, and with our limited space and capacity here, we were wanting to grow our food relief efforts.”
Currently, SDCH runs a food and pet food pantry, a free initiative for locals in need, open from 9am to 2pm every day.
SDCH Manager Krystal Russell is excited to open SDCH's community garden soon.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Being the leader of a governance board run by local volunteers, Ms Russell said the announcement that SDCH would be the recipient of the Food Relief grant took a weight off her shoulders.
“I nearly cried on the phone when they called and told us,” Ms Russell said.
“I was waiting for months and months and months, really hoping that we would be able to help the community with that project.
I was really proud of the Community House for being able to get that grant.“
2024 was Ms Russell’s first year in the management position on the board, but that was just one of the big steps she took with SDCH last year.
“In terms of 2024, it was a whirlwind,” Ms Russell said.
“There was a lot of restructuring, there was a lot of trying to refresh the space, and just trying to make it a bit more functional.”
Ms Russell said she was thankful last year for being granted a seamless transition into her new role.
“I am grateful for the opportunity,” Ms Russell said.
“Everyone has just been so welcoming with open arms for me stepping into this position, and everyone in the town that I’ve spoken to is so excited for the change that will be coming.”
Seymour and District Community House is one of over 400 community houses run by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria.
The purpose of SDCH is to create an inclusive space where community members feel welcomed, valued and respected.
“What we’re here for is to meet the need in terms of classes, workshops and lifelong learning,” Ms Russell said.
“Connection is at the base of everything that we do.
“So, we’re just wanting for people to feel a sense of belonging, a sense of ownership, and a big sense of community.”
Alongside their food relief efforts, SDCH is host to a number of free and inexpensive workshops, and they also run a childcare centre, which is currently at full capacity.
SDCH is always calling for local volunteers to join the committee of governance, facilitate a workshop, or just get involved in any of the events they run.
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