Partnering with Bendigo Toyota, local Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA supermarkets, the community food drive will run from May 31 to July 2.

Bendigo Foodshare manager Bridget Bentley said local food relief organisations have seen an increase in people at serious risk of food insecurity and hunger.

She said this makes Bendigo Foodshare's food-drive as important as it has ever been.

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"We're seeing food distress affecting an increasing number of people who aren't unable to afford to put food on the table," she said.

"It's really tough for many, being hit from many angles; the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, reduction in government support, skyrocketing housing and rental prices, and higher electricity prices through the colder months."

Ms Bentley said the social and economic impacts of the current lockdown will be hardest on the vulnerable people in the community, particularly casual workers who live pay cheque to pay cheque.

"Casual workers fear that with no work over the next seven days, they will not be able to afford groceries," she said.

"A donation to our food drive is a small but important thing that we can all do to help our community."

Ms Bentley said staple food items can be hard to come by, due to their long-lasting nature and universal popularity, which means our food donors don't have a great deal of surplus stock to donate.

For that reason, she said Bendigo Foodshare is encouraging the community to support their own by donating long-life and canned foods during the month-long food drive.

All food collected will be given out to people in need via local schools and charities across central Victoria.

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The most needed essential food items include; pasta, rice and grains, cooking oil, ready-made meal bases, canned vegetables, breakfast cereals, tinned fruit, jam, peanut butter and Vegemite, flour and sugar, coffee, tea and Milo, sauces and seasonings and tinned meat and fish.

People wishing to take part can drop off their donated food at one of multiple collection stations across the city, including Bendigo Toyota, local Woolworths, Coles and IGA stores across Bendigo from May 31 to July 2.

Donations can also be given directly to Bendigo Foodshare at its warehouse located at 2/43 Havilah Road, Long Gully between 9am and 2pm Monday to Friday or other times by appointment.

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