Partners team up for food relief program

AS the cost of living squeeze continues, two community groups have teamed up to provide fresh food hampers to local people.

Part of a program called Living Together Boxes, the effort is being run by the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council with funding from the Ballarat Italian Association to support multicultural community members.

The boxes of fresh produce are distributed on the last Tuesday of every month from the BRMC office in Barkley Square.

For people who are unable to pick them up, delivery is available.

Heeyoung Lim, strategy and settlement manager at BRMC said the initiative aims to support families in the Ballarat region.

“It started to support people of migrant, refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds who were suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“The goal is to help people overcome difficulties caused by COVID with deliveries every month of fresh fruit and vegetables.

“Clients are really happy with the boxes and the care and love they provide.”

Ms Lim said the organisation regularly checks in with families to see if they still need the support or if it can be passed on to others in the region.

Carla Woodruss, committee member of the Ballarat Italian Association said the group decided to get involved to support other cultural groups in the area.

“We currently fund 16 boxes of fruit and vegetables,” she said.

“It’s a practical way of supporting families who are struggling as newcomers or established families in Ballarat.”