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 (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.
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 St Vincent de Paul Vinnies Soup Van Program has been providing Victorians with food, social connection, and referral pathways out of homelessness and poverty for many years. But during the covid pandemic, the team at Footscray were forced to readjust their offering – they’ve been delivering more than 550 food hampers to local community members each and every week.
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.
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.
Almost 1,300 people who were looking for a job due to the coronavirus crisis are now working for Victoria thanks to the Victorian Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Jobs Martin Pakula On Wednesday 8 April to announce the first raft of positions secured through the Working for Victoria Fund – with thousands more to benefit in the coming weeks and months.
More than 60 people have taken up new roles here at Foodbank Victoria, in various roles in our warehouse. These new recruits will play a vital role in helping us to prepare care packages and charity food orders for Victorians in need of food relief.
Emma, who is one of the new recruits employed as part of the Working for Victoria Fund, has recently joined our team as Warehouse Supervisor. Previously working within the furniture wholesale industry, Emma recently lost her job as a result of the coronavirus restrictions. Eager to keep herself busy, Emma contacted us about potential volunteering opportunities. Emma’s wealth of experience in supply and inventory management was a natural fit for Foodbank. When asked how she feels about her new role at Foodbank, she replied,
“It’s great to be using this time in an important role rather than waiting for the economy to pick back up again. I’m lucky to have been given this opportunity as so many people have sadly been impacted.”
“I’ve just started in a warehouse supervisor role, looking after operations for food relief hampers for our charity partners, as well as care packages for people in mandatory self-isolation. I’ll also be working closely with volunteers who come in to assist packing and sorting donated food for distribution. I might also help with inventory and stock if it’s needed down the track.”
The Working for Victoria Fund is open to workers who have recently lost their job or casuals who no longer have shifts – including international students and temporary migrants. Relocation, accommodation and transport subsides are available to eligible participants. Businesses and workers can register at vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
If you are interested in permanent roles at Foodbank Victoira, please visit our Careers page to view a list of current vacancies.
We’re celebrating some of our COVID Crusaders – our charity partners who are working hard on the front line to help the growing number of people seeking food relief across Victoria, just like Reservoir Neighbourhood House.
Before COVID-19, Reservoir Neighbourhood House was operating a series of weekly food programs for their community. From small targeted cooking initiatives, free soup days, to the daily grocery hamper service, these largely volunteer-run programs were assisting more than 450 people a month.
Angie, Executive Officer at the centre, has said that although they had to shut their doors during the pandemic, they have kept working tirelessly to address the growing need for food relief.
“We joined together with other organisations and businesses and were able to give out around 3900 grocery bags within an eight-week period. It’s made us (Darebin Neighbourhood Houses) realise how much strength and support we have, how fast we can implement things in crisis situations and how much trust we have from partners who believe in our work and have the same focus – community.”
The impacts of COVID-19 have seen sweeping changes in the demographics of those accessing food relief, with many people receiving help for the first time.
“Some people who described themselves as comfortable and had previously been donating to charities were now asking for support for basics such as food,”
With the move to stage 4 restrictions, Angie and the team have again adapted, providing additional mental health resources for those struggling in isolation.
And to those who are finding lockdown difficult, Angie has some words of encouragement.
There is no right and wrong in COVID-19. We are all in this together, though our experiences may feel very different. Do one thing each day (big or small) that brings you joy or spreads joy to someone else.
St. Albans Secondary College recently joined the School Breakfast Clubs Program in Term 1 this year. They serve more than 150 breakfasts each morning! Their Breakfast Club wouldn’t be the success that it is without the help of their committed student volunteers.
Administrative and First Aid Officer and Breakfast Club Coordinator Carmel Castorina, has been at the school for 10 years and they have been running a Breakfast Club in different forms for almost 12 years. Carmel, who says Breakfast Club is her favourite part of the job, was happy to share how their Breakfast Club has improved since joining Foodbank’s School Breakfast Clubs Program. She also shared their ingenious idea of featuring Breakfast Club testimonies in their Yearbook to help spread the word!
Carmel says, “Breakfast Club started one day per week and then I brought it to two days, and now with Foodbank’s help, we are capable of running it every morning. Foodbank coming along was amazing as I had more breakfast to offer the kids”.
Carmel worries that without Breakfast Club many of their students wouldn’t have time for breakfast at home, or they wouldn’t have access to a variety of foods. She knows how important it is to the students and says, “when they come to school and they see Breakfast Club, they have a better day.”
Carmel believes their Breakfast Club’s strong sense of community contributes to the success of their program. Students volunteer each morning and staff are known to pop their heads in and offer help. It is with this openness, that their Breakfast Club is ingrained in the daily life of a student at their school.
Carmel also acknowledges the important opportunity Breakfast Club creates for students and staff to build relationships. She says, “Breakfast Club is a community, we all come together, students and staff talk and chat. Staff have an opportunity to see kids in and out of the class environment”.
Carmel also engages the students to help run Breakfast Club, she says of her student helpers “they are my main support backbone.” The school makes sure that those students are recognised for their contribution by giving them certificates at the end of the year, “the kids know that the school is very very appreciative of their help.”
One other reason why their Breakfast Club is successful is the dedicated page in the Yearbook that is distributed amongst students each year. This helps to promote Breakfast Club to other students.
The Yearbook features a variety of the school’s programs, and Breakfast Club features in it because it’s such a significant program within in the school. She says, “this year it will be even more joyous because we are now running five days a week”.
Carmel gets photos and testimonials from the regular Breakfast Club attendees, through this she says “past students bring on other students, or even siblings. It just follows every year….”
It’s also obvious that a large part of their Breakfast Club’s success comes down to Carmel’s passion. She says, “the program is probably my favourite role of all that I do in the school. It gives me so much satisfaction and it’s just so important to educate the kids about eating well”.
And it’s clear that their Breakfast Club isn’t going anywhere, Carmel says, “if Breakfast Club doesn’t run, the kids really miss it. It has impacted the school significantly, it’s part of the school now. It’s here, and it’s here to stay.”
We are excited to announce that we’re uniting with Western United Football Club to fight hunger.
As the newest club to join the A-League competition, Western United have officially announced Foodbank Victoria as the club’s official Principal Charity Partner.
“As a football club, Western United FC is still so young being in our inaugural year of the A-League. The team has worked hard on the pitch, but off the pitch, we are working just as hard to build a club the west will be proud of – this partnership is a solid first step for us on that journey.
The work Foodbank Victoria does, the commitment to the issue of hunger – it is second to none. Together we will combine our strengths and build a partnership that will help fight the hunger crisis,” said Chris Pehlivanis, CEO Western United Football Club.
In recent weeks, there’s been an unprecedented increase in the number of people seeking food relief, with many of our 450+ charity partners reporting a 50% increase in demand as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. This announcement has come at a time in which support is not just welcomed, but needed to meet the growing number of Victorians in need.
“We are really excited to partner with Western United Football Club with both organisations sharing a place in the west and a passion to connect and support our community,” said Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara.
“Together we will highlight how difficult it is for many Victorians to put a meal on the table and provide the Western United Football Club community with opportunities to get involved and help those less fortunate,” Dave continued.
Though going hungry may seem foreign to many of us, it is a horrific reality for 1 in 5 Victorians. Suffering is often hidden but the reality is we are all likely to know someone going without.
Players from Western United Football Club volunteered their time last week, helping to pack food hampers for those in need.
“It’s great (to see) what Foodbank Victoria do for the community especially in times like this. It feels good to help out those in need.” said player Josh Risdon.
“I was surprised to hear how many people go without a healthy meal on the table. It’s great that our club can help out and do our bit to help each other.”
Throughout the 2020/21 season, we will be working closely with Western United to raise awareness of food insecurity across the State and work together to raise funds to ensure more meals are going out to those who need them most.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to support the cause at key events throughout the year.
Together we are United – to fight hunger.
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