Locals in need bank on community centre

A NEIGHBOURHOOD centre in Whittington is not only helping to feed locals in need, but also tackling the underlying issues surrounding food insecurity.

The Bellarine Living and Learning Centre (BLLC), which is located in Worden Court, operates a food bank every Wednesday morning between 9am and midday.

The centre and its team of volunteers currently assists around 40 families a week.

But food security project manager, Anita Belousoff, said the food bank was just one arm of many helping people in need.

Mrs Belousoff said while the food bank assisted people in food crisis, it was just putting a “band aid” on the issue.

“It’s not just about handing out food all the time, that’s not really dealing with the problem,” she said.

“It’s looking at the underlying issues, why there is food insecurity in the area, and how we can tackle that, and how we can work with other organisations in the area to achieve that.”

Mrs Belousoff expects demand for the food bank will increase when the federal government’s JobKeeper payments subside.

She also said food the bank was originally receiving from Food Bank Victoria was redirected to Red Cross when Victoria was declared a State of Disaster, making it harder for them to help.

“We have had a fairly distinct change with how we access food and it has become expensive for agencies like us, and we can no longer access it for free and we are having to pay for it, so that is impacting what we can do here at the centre in terms of what we can offer.

“We are trying to balance nutrition and not just give out prepacked meals and pantry bags with pasta and noodles, we are trying to give people overall nutrition, but that is proving harder.”

The centre receives funding from Give Where You Live, Geelong Community Foundation and Feed Geelong, while One Care Geelong is a major partner.

It can also hand out food vouchers for Geelong Food Relief mini marts so families can access more food.

Mrs Belousoff said other arms helping those in need were a food connect program, which included a learn to cook program, and kicking off shortly was an urban food swap, where locals who grew their own produce could share it with those in need.

Manager Karen Williams said BLLC was a community-based organisation which played an important role in providing local residents with opportunities to learn, develop, and socialise.

Mrs Williams said she loved working with the local community and a committed team of staff and volunteers.

“There is a personal sense of satisfaction from being here,” she said.

The centre also offers a youth program, arts and craft, technology and more.

The food bank is available to anyone. Phone 5248 1926 or head to bllc.org.au