Drysdale foodbank calls for donations

THE Drysdale Family Support Foodbank is calling on the local community to help raise $30,000 so it can continue to give people the assistance they desperately need.

Coordinator Jake Hogendoorn said community support had been amazing since the start of the pandemic, but with the continued increase in demand, a lower grant allocation and the continued closure of their op shop, they needed help to continue to assist people.

“The Drysdale Family Support Foodbank continues to support Bellarine Peninsula families by providing regular food parcels to those experiencing food insecurity,” Mr Hogendoorn said.

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for food support increased significantly.

“The demand in 2020 rose by 22 per cent when compared to 2019, and has remained high through 2021.”

Mr Hogendoorn said 2020 saw a wonderful response from Give Where You Live and the Anthony Costa Foundation, but the latter wasn’t matched this year.

“Give Where You Live fast tracked funding grants in 2020 for those organisations providing food assistance and this was matched by the Anthony Costa Foundation,” he said.

“But in 2021 the pandemic has continued to impact local lives.

“Give Where You Live has again supported Drysdale Family Support with a significant grant to help us continue to support families in need.

“Unfortunately, the matching grant was not received this year and The Second Chance Op Shop, which supports the Foodbank has been closed a lot, due to lockdowns, meaning it has made no profit to support the Foodbank.”

Mr Hogendoorn said the Foodbank, which operates out of the Drysdale Community Church, was asking the Bellarine community to help it raise $30,000 over the next 10 months to meet the budget that would allow them to continue to give people the assistance they desperately required and deserved.

“At this time we are running well over budget and really need more support to continue to provide food for Bellarine Peninsula residents,” he said.

He said non-perishable food donations would still continue to be welcome and could reduce the demand on finances.

“Donations of money to help buy the food we regularly purchase would be wonderful,” Mr Hogendoorn said.

“It can be a one off donation or a regular amount over a period of time.”

Donations can be made to Drysdale Family Support, Bendigo Bank, BSB 633 000, ACCOUNT 118464429.