The Anglican Parish of Rutherford/Telarah was blessed when Mother Moira arrived in the parish four years ago.

She came here with a mission, not just to preach, but to give something to the community and help those less fortunate.

Since her arrival the former Catholic novice nun, has established a food program, helping those in the west who are doing it tough.

She has already established a vegetable patch at St Christopher’s, Rutherford designed to help feed struggling families but now she wants to take her charity work to the next level.

Her latest plan is to establish a permanent op-shop and cafe at St Luke’s Telarah to keep the parish’s bank balance healthy with future plans to build a bathroom facility and buy a washing machine and clothes dryer for the area’s homeless.

The plight of five people, including a mother and her children, living in cars in Rutherford’s back streets was enough to prompt Mother Moira to take action.

Her generosity comes at a time when householders are paying exorbitant energy bills, increased council rates and top dollar for fuel. Few can afford to feed their families, let alone pay off a mortgage or pay rent.

Fairfax Media reported in June last year how Maitland was caught in the grip of a growing poverty crisis with young families desperately seeking handouts for food and utility payments at an alarming rate.

Mine and mining related industry redundancies were partly to blame for the spike in what welfare workers describe as the “middle class poor”, beating a path to Maitland Neighbour Centre’s doors, desperate to feed their families.

Fairfax Media recentIy reported that in a single month 644,000 Australians receive food relief from charities, while 43,000 people are turned away due to a shortage of food and resources. A third of those going without are children.

In NSW more than 80,000 adults and children were assisted by food charities last year, while 7735 were turned away, according to data from relief agency Foodbank.

Basic family living should not have to resort to measures such as Mother Moira’s but in a day and age where the Aussie dollar does not go far, is it any wonder?

Thank you Mother Moira, you’re a Maitland miracle.