Durkin Produce

Located in Thorpdale, Victoria’s ‘potato capital,’ Durkin Produce have been long-term supporters of Foodbank, regularly donating potatoes to help feed those in need.

Father and son duo, Mike and Matt Durkin, oversee the harvest of 10,000 tonnes of potatoes a year for the Durkin Group. The farm supplies a large amount of potatoes to Woolworths and Aldi every year.

Son Matt says when working in the food industry, it’s important to have a social conscience.

“We like donating to Foodbank as it allows for some of our potatoes to make their way to some of those less fortunate in our community, and provide them with a good nutritious food staple,” he says.

Mike, who is in charge of the operation, says that aside from a social conscience, the benefit of farmers donating to Foodbank is that it avoids waste.

He says because consumers only want premium potatoes from supermarkets, many of their potatoes are unable to make their way to retailers.

“It’s very frustrating. There’s nothing wrong with the product apart from cosmetically or it’s out of specifications. But it’s just wasted.”

“The Thorpdale farming community is no different to any other. Everyone is involved in the footy and netball clubs, the school and kinder and things are tough in the bush.

“Whether you donate time or services or product, it’s part and parcel of living in regional Australia.”

It’s thanks to generous farmers and growers like Durkin Produce that we’re able to ensure hungry Victorians have access to healthy food.

Nature’s Dairy

Every term we deliver breakfast, lunch and school holiday supplies to schools across Victoria so students can get a healthy start to the day and milk is one of the key ingredients! Where does it come from? From the hard-work farmers at Nature’s Dairy.

Phillip Island Community & Learning Centre

Phillip Island relies heavily on tourism and during covid-19, the community has seen a rise in people struggling to put food on the table. We caught up with one of the only food relief organisations in the region, Phillip Island Community & Learning Centre, to find out how they’re helping the growing number of people in need.

St Vincent de Paul Society, Bairnsdale

St Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) Bairnsdale is just one of 9 Foodbank charity partners who provide emergency food relief and support to the wider East Gippsland community.

Albert, former regional president, has been involved with the organisation for close to 15 years. Albert’s current role is to oversee the food relief program. Available each weekday, those in need can access a food parcel including a range of staple items catering to the size of the family.

The organisation also gives careful consideration to a full range of requests and helps connect community members to other services they may need. During February and March, they were assisting 70-90 individuals each week.

Like many charity organisations in the Gippsland region, the recent bushfire crisis was a significant time for SVDP Bairnsdale.

From 30 December 2019, the team at SVDP Bairnsdale had set up at the evacuation centre: “And it was full-on, right from the get-go. It was hugely busy. It was chaotic in many ways, and we were all working in one space alongside a lot of the other helping agencies,” recalls Albert.

Albert says the social element of providing food relief has always been valuable but was vital during the bushfires.

“People who came in were in shock, sharing photos and telling tales of what they had lost. It was a little bit overwhelming the number of people who had suffered. Tears well up in your own eyes listening to some of these stories,” said Albert.

Due to the current health pandemic, the team has once again adapted, and to adhere to social distancing requirements they are conducting phone interviews and providing vouchers for food relief. As restrictions ease, and the situation improves, Albert envisages their services will be called upon more frequently.

Operating out of a small shopfront for the last four years, the team are looking at moving to a larger premise. With the on-going drought, the recent bushfires, and the current economic impact of coronavirus, the demand is increasing, and a more spacious location will allow the organisation to continue to respond to the growing need.

Creamy Valley Produce

Meet Roy Beaumont, owner of Creamy Valley Produce in East Gippsland. Roy, and his wife, Alison Beaumont, have been running the Potato farm for many years and regularly donate excess produce to Foodbank.

The Food Store @ ECHO

Based in Cockatoo in Melbourne’s East, The Food Store offers a safe space for community members to interact and take home free basic food supplies, fruit and vegetables.

Where does Foodbank food go?

By working with more than 450 charity organisations across Victoria – from large organisations like Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul, through to smaller neighbourhood houses and community centres – we’re able to provide 1.5 million meals to Victorians in need, every month.

We recently paid a visit to some of the wonderful people receiving this food relief – like Fay, who was unable to find work following a cancer diagnosis; pensioner Ray, who struggles to get to the supermarket; and Barry and Fay, who simply can’t afford groceries.