Food 'not needed' in WA bushfire centres

The Country Women's Association has asked people wanting to help those affected by the WA bushfires not to donate food because it is a waste.

People wanting to help bushfire-ravaged towns south of Perth are being urged to hold off on delivering food because the two evacuation centres are inundated.

Country Women's Association state treasurer Pam Beatson told AAP on Saturday the evacuation centres could not cope with all the gifts, including toys and clothes, so the Bunbury Italian Club was storing most of them.

With the Southbound music festival cancelled, the CWA has had a lot of deliveries of fresh food that was supposed to go there, but Ms Beatson said they also had too many loaves of bread and other food that was being wasted.

"Please don't bring food and cooked meals because we can't take them," she said.

"We're catering for more people than turn up.

"I appreciate absolutely that everyone wants to help, and the food looks great, but we can't take it."

Instead, people are being urged to donate money through the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund.

Ms Beatson said the CWA had been catering for officials and evacuees in Australind, providing three meals a day as well as tea, coffee, cake, fruit and sandwiches.

She said everyone was "literally in shock" and too overwhelmed to smile, but she knew everyone was grateful for their efforts.

"Everybody is doing their best and they're coping very, very well," she said.


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Source: AAP


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