A Bendigo based food charity has been given a lifeline with the announcement of new funding that will help secure more meal deliveries to vulnerable families.
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Bendigo Foodshare board chair Cathie Steele said people who had been going without food in the Bendigo region would be supported with more food deliveries.
“When times are tough and when you don’t have enough disposable income, bills can get on top of you..then food is normally the first thing to go,” Ms Steele said.
Bendigo Foodshare encountered complications earlier in the year when Foodbank Victoria changed its freight provider resulting in reduced refrigerated and frozen stock.
“For the vulnerable people in our community this means a lot,” Ms Steele said.
“If you’re a child going to school without having breakfast or lunch it’s very hard to concentrate and learn.
“Being able to give these children something to eat before they start school makes a world of difference.”
Foodbank Victoria is supported by the state government and will be provided with $132,000 over the next four years to support chilled, fresh and frozen food deliveries to services around Victoria such as Bendigo Foodshare.
Ms Steele said one of the main benefits of the announcement was refrigerated and frozen foods would become accessible for the organisation.
“We will be able to get more dairy products such as butter, yogurt, cheese as well as eggs and red meat which we can’t get locally,” Ms Steele said.
Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said Bendigo Foodshare will be able to source more food for its delivery service.
“Many Central Victorian families rely on great local organisations like Bendigo Foodshare to source their food every day and I am so pleased we have been able to intervene and assist them,” Ms Allan said.
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards was also pleased with the latest funding announcement.
“This is terrific news for our local community and will be a huge relief to many vulnerable families who will now be able to get the support they need,” Ms Edwards said.
Each year Foodbank Victoria distributes approximately 400,000 kilograms of food to Bendigo Foodshare and other charities based in central Victoria which equates to more than 700,000 meals.
The delivery service of chilled, fresh and frozen foods is planned to commence within the next fortnight.
Foodbank Victoria is supported by the state government, corporations and donors who provide funding to more than 400 not-for-profit organisations.
