But the organisation’s supply of frozen and refrigerated stock remains limited by a lack of suitable transportation between Melbourne and Bendigo.

People from Echuca to Gisborne and Avoca to Girgarre benefit from Bendigo Foodshare’s generosity.

Board chair Cathie Steele said the organisation had been in need of a new van to distribute food throughout the region since late last year, when the van it was loaning from Foodbank Victoria was retired.

“It was a really scary times because we had food we couldn’t get out,” she said.

A $20,000 grant from the federal government’s Stronger Communities Program and support from a range of other organisations has solved that logistical issue.

But the challenges posed by a change in Foodbank Victoria’s freight provider are still being felt in the community.

The new provider does not have chilled transport capacity, stopping the flow of frozen and chilled food from Foodbank Victoria in Melbourne to regional Foodshares such as Bendigo’s.

Ms Steele said some Foodshares, such as Warrnambool, had found local solutions to the issue.

“We still have a need for people to help us with getting large volumes - I'm talking 14 pallet loads, say, overnight or during the day - from Melbourne to Bendigo once a week,” she said.

RELATED: Fraught food situation stunts supply to Bendigo Foodshare

Bendigo Foodshare receives about 40 per cent of its food stock from Melbourne.

Foodbank Victoria contracted its new freight provider in January after its previous provider went into voluntary administration.

Ms Steele was grateful for the support of the federal government and other organisations in enabling Bendigo Foodshare to buy its much-needed new van.

“This is fantastic,” she said.

Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said the organisation was an extremely worthy recipient of the funding.

She said she would raise the lack of chilled transport between Foodbank Victoria and Bendigo Foodshare with her colleagues in parliament.

“It’s vital that our federal government demonstrates strong commitment to supporting community infrastructure like Bendigo Foodshare,” Ms Chesters said.

Ms Steele has urged anyone who can assist with transporting pallets of refrigerated or frozen goods from Melbourne to call 5444 3409 on weekday mornings.

Bendigo Foodshare would also welcome contact from prospective local suppliers of refrigerated and frozen products.