New Staples Bag is full of quality groceries, sold cheap

Launched on Thursday September 24, at Auburn Centre for Community, the standard Staples Bag has about $60 worth of nutritious and essential food items such as milk, bread, assorted pantry staples, seasonal vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood and fruit available for $20.

But the benefits of the food supply packages are two-fold, with the Staples Bags also providing a number of opportunities for job seekers.

Developed as an initiative of the CoAct/SSI Work for the Dole (WFD) program, the Staples Bag provides job seekers with tangible skills in a range of areas including logo and website design, packaging and warehouse maintenance, customer service and direct marketing.

SSI Manager of Employment Services, Terry Wilson, said the food packages were a prime example of how SSI’s holistic approach to developing employment programs produced practical outcomes.

“The Staples Bag is one of three Work for the Dole initiatives where job seekers can help in the creation of a product that can be marketed,” Mr Wilson said. “These initiatives involve jobseekers throughout the process so they develop valuable experience, skills and training along the way.”

The family Staples Bag ($30) contains up to $80 worth of grocery items and can feed 3 to 4 people for up to one week. There is also a Vegetarian Bag ($15) and a dedicated Fruit Bag ($5). 

The food packages can be purchased at the Auburn Community Centre every Monday and Thursday between 1pm-5pm.

For more information visit thestaplesbag.org.au