Bendigo Foodshare has resumed its usual service providing food to various programs throughout the city with the assistance from funding that was announced earlier in the year.
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Bendigo Foodshare board chair Cathie Steele said the funding had helped the organisation resume delivery services throughout the city.
“We can get the food out to the agencies which is great,” Ms Steele said.
“We still don’t get quite as much as in the past, but we are very close.”
Bendigo Foodshare general manager Steven Coles said they had resumed receiving shipments of refrigerated and frozen goods each Friday.
“We’re receiving a good range of staple goods again which is great,” Mr Coles said.
“Our stocks are almost back to normal so we are able to supply all of our agencies.”
Bendigo Foodshare receives food donations from various suppliers in Melbourne which deliver a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, ready made meals, baked items and dairy goods.
“We’re in a really good position now,” Mr Coles said.
Ms Steele said Bendigo Foodshare hoped to keep their stock ‘topped up’ with the help from local community donations.
“The community as a whole can get behind this, we need local donations to help us out,” Ms Steele said.
Girton Grammar’s support
Girton Grammar School has donated non-perishable items to Bendigo Foodshare along with money raised from a lunchtime barbecue held at the school.
Headmaster Matthew Maruff said community service was highly valued within the school’s culture.
“Our students are active in a number of ways in supporting those in the community less fortunate than themselves and Bendigo Foodshare is doing wonderful work in Bendigo and beyond,” Mr Maruff said.
“Bendigo Foodshare sources and distributes around 600,000kg of food to central Victorians annually and we are pleased to assist in some small way.”
Ms Steele said donations such as the one from Girton made a huge difference to the organisation.
“It has given the kids an understanding of the fact there are people in need and they can do something to make a difference,” Ms Steele said.
“They showed me their store room and the food is spilling out the door.”
Bendigo Foodshare’s future plans
Bendigo Foodshare has many plans in the works including working with the City of Greater Bendigo to create a food hub within the city.
“We hope to find a bigger, permanent location with low rent, kitchens and spaces for education,” Ms Steele said.
“By the end of the of 2018/19 financial year we hope to have a funding submission in place to get a location ready.”
