Bushfire Relief in Longwarry

25 March 2019

 
In times of disaster, such as bushfires, floods and droughts, our charity partners are right there responding to the needs of their communities.

In the wake of the recent fires in South East Victoria we delivered some extra food and groceries to our partners supporting those affected, including Longwarry and District Lions Club.

We’re thankful for all the incredible people – many of them volunteers – who work tirelessly in their community to support others. Their kindness and compassion makes the world a better place.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333

Hunger Ride 2019: they came, they rode, they conquered

16 March 2019

 

On Saturday 16 March cyclists took on the 172km round trip from Beechworth up Mt Buffalo and back over Mt Stanley for Foodbank Victoria’s The Hunger Ride. 

With one in five children going hungry each year, the ride has so far helped to raise more than $80,000 to feed vulnerable Victorian children and their families.

In its second year, the event attracted corporate teams from Montague JAZZ™ Apple, Peters Ice Cream, Port of Melbourne, the West Gate Tunnel Project and Foodbank Victoria. The ride was led out by Hunger Ride Ambassador and cycling champion Baden Cooke – winner of the 2003 Tour de France Green Jersey.

“Having grown up in Benalla I’m a huge fan of Victoria’s High Country. It was once again a sensational event and it was great to see the riders challenge themselves to make the distance and raise much-needed funds for Foodbank,” he said.

Montague, one of the largest family-run fruit growing businesses in Australia, sponsored the event through its popular apple variety, JAZZ Apple. Members of the public were treated to a free JAZZ Apple at Myrtleford’s Rotary Park and atop Mt Buffalo.

“As a family business producing quality Australian fruit, assisting those in the community impacted by food insecurity aligns strongly with our values,” said Ray Montague, Managing Director at Montague.

Foodbank distributed more than six million kilograms of food last financial year to its 400 charity partners across Victoria.

“Every dollar donated helps us to provide two meals,” said Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara.

“Across the state our charity partners are reporting increased demand for food relief. While we’re helping to feed more than 116,000 Victorians every month, we know more than 12,000 people seeking food can’t be assisted each month. Initiatives like The Hunger Ride are trying to bridge the gap between supply and demand.

“We are incredibly grateful to Montague JAZZ Apple for sponsoring the 2019 ride. Montague has been a fantastic supporter of Foodbank for more than 10 years now and we couldn’t do what we do without them. I also want to thank the amazing teams, individual riders and event partners who helped to make The Hunger Ride possible.”

Visit The Hunger Ride website for more information.

Click here to view the full photo album.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333 

Glen Park Community Centre

The community is certainly at the heart of Glen Park Community Centre. Since opening the doors to its Community Pantry in 2018, the pantry provides food relief to families and community members of the Bayswater community.

The Community Pantry offers a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, frozen meals, non-perishable food and personal hygiene items for those in need. A home-cooked meal (from the attached Café on the Park social enterprise) and hearty conversation are also served up to pantry attendees.

Glen Park Community Centre CEO Heidi Butler-Moore believes the key is to provide a space which connects the Community Pantry members to the wider community.

“There would be many people that may find food resources somewhere else but I don’t think they would have the connectedness they have now through the pantry. It’s the ripple effect of that, which I think is really benefiting our community,” she said.

With qualified chef Naomi Butler-Moore at the helm, Glen Park Community Centre also hosts community meals several times a year. With many of the Community Pantry members attending these events, Heidi believes “the social inclusion part of the meals is the greatest outcome.”

Chef Naomi is proudly involved in all food activities at the Centre; from ordering and collecting food for the Community Pantry, to designing menus and preparing and cooking meals at the Café on the Park. For Naomi, working at Glen Park Community Centre can be emotional.

“It does bring me to tears a lot. It has opened my eyes to how much we waste as a society and how much people go without. When I’m out at the back of the ute sorting through the fruit and veggies and someone grabs you by the arm, and they have tears in their eyes thanking you, you just take a step back and think – wow. To me, I am just doing what I am doing, and you don’t realise the impact until something like that happens,” said Naomi.

As for the future of the Community Pantry, Heidi and her team are positive about increasing the number of families they assist. Regardless of what challenges they might face, Heidi passionately states – “we’ll make it work!”

Find out more about the Community Pantry and Café on the Park at Glen Park Community Centre, at cafeonthepark.org.au

Darebin Information and Volunteer Resource Service

For almost 30 years, Darebin Information and Volunteer Resource Service (DIVRS) has been providing a wide range of support to its diverse community in Melbourne’s north.

Through the organisation’s food relief program, community members on a low income are entitled to collect a free parcel of staple groceries and a parcel of fresh produce. Running four days a week, the program is currently assisting 200 households a week, with that number rising.

“We’ve got around seven to 10 new clients coming to us each week. That’s why we need to prepare for this increasing need, which will be significant over the next five to 10 years,” said Frances Trimboli, Executive Officer at DIVRS.

Complementing the products sourced through food charities, DIVRS has a trained horticulturist and team of volunteers who manage the Urban Food Program – a series of grassroots initiatives addressing the challenges of food insecurity in the Darebin community.

Current projects include The Backyard Basics: a thriving on-site garden with a greenhouse to cultivate seedlings and raised garden beds growing edibles; and The Darebin Fruit Squad: a team of volunteers who harvest excess fruit and produce from households in the neighbourhood.

DIVRS also works with local schools around the issues of food insecurity through its Urban Food Program.

We provide seedlings and the schools grow some food on our behalf.

Last year DIVRS raised funds to purchase a van which Frances believes is a “game changer” for the community.

“Now with the van, it provides a resource to Darebin and the northern suburbs because our volunteer group can go out on a weekly basis and do weekly pickups from Foodbank. We will be taking a lead role in doing some of the pickups for some of the smaller agencies that are part of the emergency relief network for Darebin,” said Frances.

Find out more about Darebin Information and Volunteer Resource Service at divrs.org.au

School Spotlight: Carwatha College

Carwatha College P-12 have recently hosted some special visitors at their Breakfast Club, in the hope attracting a few more faces in the mornings. Despite already running a buzzing Breakfast Club 5 days per week, Breakfast Club Coordinator Donna Azzopardi explained they still aim to attract more students.

“We wanted to get more kids coming to breakfast club, to see how much fun it is! We also love the idea of important members of the community coming along and chatting and eating with students,” she said.

In recent months the school has hosted local police officers, their local MP Julian Hill (Federal Member for Bruce), and even Santa found the time to drop by in his busiest month of the year.

“The students just loved when the police came for breakfast. They all asked questions and we had a few students walk away wanting to join the police force when they are older,” Donna said.

And when asked whether the guest appearances helped increase the profile of Breakfast Club within the school community?

“Yes!!!! We had a huge turnout, I think some students had a notion that Breakfast Club is for disadvantaged kids, but once they came along and saw how much fun it is and how it is for everyone it changed their perspective. Even for the kids that come from families that are suffering financial hardship and need Breakfast Club, now they see if they come along they won’t be ‘labelled’ or judged.”

When asked if encouraging special community guests to attend Breakfast Club was difficult, Donna said it was easy. All she had to do was email them an invitation and they were very happy to attend.

This is a wonderful example of how to grow the profile of your Breakfast Club within your school community. When asked if they are trying anything else to increase attendance at their Breakfast Club, Donna explained:

“Being a prep to 12, we try and have our year 12 captains come along to chat with the students. This year we will be starting ‘breakfast buddies’ which is where we ask secondary students to come along and be a ‘breakfast buddy’ for a primary student, to sit and have breakfast with.”

Great work Carwatha College!

“Without Foodbank we’d be lost. We certainly wouldn’t be eating fresh fruit and vegetables, it’s that simple.”

Young egg entrepreneur inspiring generosity and kindness

October 30, 2018

 

Eggs will be on the menu for families struggling to make ends meet thanks to a month-long campaign by 17-year-old egg entrepreneur, Josh Murray.

The founder of Josh’s Rainbow Eggs has grown his flock from 40 free range hens, when he started his egg business at age nine, to 10,000 today. His ‘ethical eggs’ are now stocked in more than 40 supermarkets across the state, including Woolworths.

With Foodbank’s Hunger Report earlier this month revealing almost 1 in 5 Australians had gone hungry in the past 12 months, Josh said he was compelled to help.

“It’s shocking and sad that so many families, including so many children, are missing out,” he said.

“No one should go hungry and I have the ability to share some eggs with Foodbank Victoria and make sure some of those people doing it really tough can enjoy good protein.”

For every dozen Josh’s Rainbow Eggs sold during November in select Woolworths stores, 2 eggs will be donated to Foodbank Victoria.

It’s not the first time Josh, who is soon to embark on Year 12 exams, has donated eggs. Over the past 18 months, more than 200,000 eggs from the family farm at Monegeetta (an hour north of Melbourne) have been donated.

Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara said it was heartening to see such generosity and social leadership from someone so young.

“Josh is inspiring. He’s the youngest of our food donors and among the most passionate,” he said.

“The families and individuals accessing food relief from our charity partners will be so grateful for the opportunity to enjoy Josh’s Rainbow Eggs. Sadly, we know that grocery items many people take for granted – such as eggs, meat and milk – are out of reach for most people experiencing food insecurity.”

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333 

Sheedy kicks goal to deliver 50,000 meals to Foodbank

22 October 2018

 
Kevin Sheedy has kicked the ultimate goal.

Today, the Essendon Legend lined up a shot between goal posts made of food hampers to help deliver a donation of 50,000 meals to Foodbank Victoria.

The final goal was part of the EnergyAustralia and Essendon Football Club ‘Goals to End Hunger’ campaign, supporting Foodbank.

Throughout the 2018 AFL season, EnergyAustralia pledged 200 meals for every Bombers’ goal kicked at home games. With 142 goals kicked over 11 home games, 28,400 meals were pledged. Bombers’ forwards Orazio Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti helped deliver more than 3000 meals each through their accurate kicking.

Sheedy visited Foodbank’s Yarraville food distribution centre to kick the final goal – which saw EnergyAustralia increase the number of meals donated to 50,000.

EnergyAustralia’s Community and Sponsorship Leader, Jenny Odgers, said: “The work of Foodbank Victoria is crucial and we were thrilled to partner with the Essendon Football Club on the Goals to End Hunger campaign. They delivered 28,400 meals to people in need and showed real determination in 2018. We wanted to contribute a few more goals to support Foodbank’s great work so we rounded up our donation to 50,000 meals.”

Sheedy, on behalf of the Essendon Football Club, said it was great to see Bombers’ fans supporting the message of the campaign.
“Everyone deserves access to food. Sadly one in five Australians, including children, don’t have access. That’s a huge number of people going hungry each year,” Sheedy said.

“Our fans have really got behind this cause and we look forward to seeing where the partnership goes in 2019.”

Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara – a huge Bombers’ fan – said the campaign was helping to deliver more than just meals.

“We’re really grateful to EnergyAustralia and the Essendon Football Club for not only delivering a huge number of extra meals, but for also providing a platform to engage hundreds of thousands of footy fans across the AFL season. Food insecurity is a hidden crisis that needs greater awareness if we’re going to be able to solve it,” he said.

The 2018 Foodbank Hunger Report, released last week, found that 1 in 5 Australians had gone hungry in the past 12 months. It was revealed people living in regional and remote areas were 33 per cent more likely to experience food insecurity.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333 

New hamper program helping keep hope alive for those escaping homelessness

14 June 2018

People entering crisis accommodation will be supported by a new partnership between Foodbank Victoria and Launch Housing, one of Melbourne’s leading homelessness organisations.

With rates of homelessness and waiting lists for public housing at an all-time high, the new Essential Pantry Program will help relieve pressure on people transitioning into 600 of Launch Housing’s crisis accommodation sites.

“It’s the small things that can really make a difference. Moving into crisis accommodation and being supplied with an essential hamper makes you feel like somebody cares. It’s these things that help keep hope alive,” said Emma, a former recipient of Launch Housing services.

New tenants will receive hampers filled with personal hygiene items, generously donated by Foodbank partner Asaleo Care, and staple food items sourced by Foodbank. Each hamper is valued at $245.

“It’s clear that the housing crisis is hitting people hard. With the exponential increase in housing prices and the decrease in affordable and appropriate accommodation, many families and individuals are being forced into homelessness and crisis housing,” said Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara.

Last month Launch Housing released its Australian Homelessness Monitor, highlighting the scope of the housing problem. Between 2011 and 2016, homelessness increased by 14 per cent and rough sleeping by 20 per cent in Australia. In Victoria, almost 25,000 people were homeless on Census night in 2016.

Last week, a parliamentary inquiry revealed 82,000 people, including 25,000 children, are on the waiting list for public housing in Victoria.

“The Essential Pantry program is a targeted approach to help alleviate some of the worry and financial pressure for people transitioning into temporary accommodation – whether due to being priced out of the rental market or fleeing a dangerous or unstable home life,” Mr McNamara said.

“Over the next 12 months we hope to prove the benefits of the program so it can be rolled out more widely.”

Heather Holst, Acting CEO of Launch Housing, welcomed the partnership.

“Thanks to Foodbank and Asaleo Care, these hampers of food and personal products will go a long way in welcoming our clients into their new homes in the coming year,” she said.

“Sadly, lower income households are at a greater risk of experiencing poverty as housing prices and the cost of living — particularly food — continues to rise. This partnership means that new tenants in all our transitional and long-term housing, will have a solid starting point in their next chapter.”

To kick off the program, volunteers from Asaleo Care will pack the hygiene hampers, including sanitary items, nappies, toilet paper and other necessities that are costly yet vital, at the Foodbank Victoria warehouse on June 14.

“Asaleo Care makes many of the essential products people use every day in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Our popular products like Sorbent, Libra, Handee Ultra and Deeko can be found in every household. Most of us don’t think twice about being able to buy them,” said Sid Takla, Interim CEO, Asaleo Care.

“But not everyone. For some, access to food, clothing and shelter is a major struggle – anything more is out of reach. That’s why we’ve joined with Launch Housing through Foodbank to help make it easier for hygiene, health and wellbeing to be part of everyday life for everyone. Taking care is at the heart of what we do. We’re very proud to be a leading supporter of this initiative.”

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333