Asking for help can be tough, but an Eaglehawk school has found a small change to how it delivers food support has made it much easier for families in need.
Volunteer Meg Ferrie said changing the way parents access support from Foodshare has changed to how parents feel taking food.
The Eaglehawk Catholic primary school supplies food to about 12-15 families at any one time.
Read more: Fighting food poverty as more go hungry
The school used to put out food for parents to chose from, but found they were left with lots of unused food.
Now it packages up food supplied by Bendigo Foodshare into crates, tailored to family's needs.
"People weren't taking the quantities that they could because they were worried about taking something someone else might need," Mrs Ferrie said.
"This way rather than feeling like they're taking, we're giving it to them. So it takes that level of guilt away from them."
Despite being a fee paying school, some families still found themselves in need of food, Mrs Ferrie said.
Sometimes the school will support families with food through difficult circumstances, such as illness or death of a loved one.
Packages of food are a small thing that takes one stress out of the equation, Mrs Ferrie said.
It can be surprising who needs help with food.
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Most people don't parade that life's a struggle," Mrs Ferrie said.
"A lot of the time people just find themselves in an unexpected situation. It's not something that can be anticipated.
"Things in life can change really quickly. A job loss, unexpected long term unemployment."
Altering the system has changed the way parents feel walking out the door, Mrs Ferrie said.
"The way that we have changed the service ... has been really significant in that people don't view it as a shameful thing any more," she said.
"I've often said to parents, 'It's difficult not to feel like that, but at the same time the only shame would be not doing everything you can do to look after those little people in your world'."
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
