UnitingCare Bendigo has called upon the community to donate non-perishable groceries as the charity struggles to meet demand for its food relief services.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Volunteer Julie Roberts said as many as 150 different people visited her organisation’s Forest Street site each week to collect parcels of free food.
They represented “just the tip of the iceberg” of those in need, Ms Roberts said, estimating about 400 family members benefited each week from packages distributed at her organisation.
She blamed a rise in the cost of living for driving up demand for food relief.
“It’s always the bills: electricity, water,” Ms Roberts said. “Rent is always the killer, and so is the price of education.”
“There’s nothing left after you’ve paid the bills.”
Staples like tuna, baked beans, canned fruit and pasta were especially welcome, Ms Roberts said.
While her organisation was yet to turn anyone away empty-handed, she said UnitingCare was “sometimes very limited in what [it] can give”.
The call for help comes just days after the conclusion of Bendigo Foodshare’s Million Meals in March campaign, which raised in excess of $60,000 to feed hungry central Victorians.
The month-long drive also collected 500 kilograms of food products.
Another group, Eaglehawk-based Saltworks, is in the midst of fundraising for its community pantry too.
While Ms Roberts acknowledged many local agencies were asking for their community’s support, she did not think it would adversely affect her call out for assistance.
“As soon as you ask for help, Bendigo is very good,” she said.
She also thanked Foodshare, which stocked its refrigerator, for keeping food coming into the UnitingCare pantry.
“Without them, we wouldn’t be here,” she said.
Another cause for concern among UnitingCare volunteers was the lack of knowledge their clients had about preparing food for their families.
Diane McGillivray, who also staffs the charity’s California Gully op shop, said poor cooking skills were leaving Bendigonians hungry.
“While people used to be able to do a lot with not much, many people don’t know what to do with food if it’s not prepackaged or microwaveable,” she said.
Anyone wishing to give food to UnitingCare Bendigo can drop off their donations at 25 Forrest Street between 10am and 4pm every weekday except Wednesday.
Kangaroo Flat donors can visit the corner of Camp and Church Streets between 9am and noon on Tuesdays and Fridays.
