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\u201cOn average, we\u2019ve been doing around 240 packages a fortnight to deliver to schools and then they distribute out to their families and international students and migrant refugees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe schools identify the families that need it, it\u2019s all confidential we don\u2019t know who they\u2019re going to, we just provide a number of bags to the schools.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the school year wrapping up, so too is the Ballarat Foundation\u2019s food relief program and Ms Oliver said it was a great opportunity to thank those who contributed and volunteered.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all volunteer run, we\u2019ve utilised our L2P mentors as the packers and deliverers and we use our L2P vehicles to drive them around,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re so grateful to everyone who has helped along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thanks to United Way Australia and a variety of other donors including 3M Corporation, Australian Communities Foundation, Bendigo Bank, Apex Ballarat and Ballarat Italian Association, Ms Oliver said the initiative could assist many struggling families with dignity and in privacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe families are really grateful to receive the packages, it obviously helps one bag of groceries might save them a bit of money to put towards something else,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe schools have been certainly grateful, and it has given them an opportunity to provide outreach to their families, particularly while in lockdown.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SINCE May this year the Ballarat Foundation, Salvos and Ballarat Community Health have been delivering food relief bags around the city as part of the response to the COVID-19 crisis. Volunteers and staff have been buying, packing and taking bags of groceries to Ballarat families impacted by the pandemic. Ballarat Foundation youth program manager Stacey […]<\/p>\n