First droughts, then floods, now a dairy crisis – our farmers have been faced with one crisis after another. 

To help ease the burden, East Loddon Community Network Group and the Salvation Army Bendigo Corps have been distributing care packages filled with pantry staples.

Support has come from Foodbank Victoria and a Melbourne-based business.

This month, the Country Women’s Association of Victoria Bendigo Northern Group is also jumping on board.

The CWA group aims to raise $20,000 in two months to help meet the growing need for help.

‘Need’, in this case, is a more appropriate than ‘demand’, as East Loddon Community Network Group President Leanne Welsh said farmers were reluctant to ask for assistance. 

She said Salvation Army Bendigo rural outreach officer John Cartwright distributed up to 30 care packages per week in the Dingee East Loddon District alone. 

To meet the need, Mrs Welsh said the supply could easily be doubled. 

Care packages are costed at roughly $65 dollars each, and are full of non-perishable food items and the odd household item. 

From September 26 until October 2, CWA members will be accepting donations to help fill more boxes. 

CWA Northern Bendigo Group Secretary Denise Underwood said members would be seated outside Woolworths at Bendigo Marketplace from 9am until 6pm Monday to Thursday, from 10am until 6pm on Friday, and from 10am until 4pm at the weekend.

A full list of items needed to fill the boxes, and some welcome extras, will be published closer to the date.

Fundraising will also occur at a Food 4 Dairy Farmers event on October 6.

East Loddon P-12 College VCAL students will be serving finger food from 1.30pm until 2.30pm at the marketplace.

Tickets are $21 and can be purchased online or at the stall outside Woolworths.

A raffle, with more than a dozen prizes, will be held on the day.

CWA members thanked all those who had already supported the initiative.

Mrs Welsh said it wasn’t just the food in the care packages recipients looked forward to. 

“It’s the visit,” she said.

She said Mr Cartwright was a vital source of support, and was able to link those in need of assistance with resources. 

Ms Underwood said people could email food4dairyfarmers@gmail.com with inquiries.