Portarlington food relief service desperately seeks new home

A PORTARLINGTON food relief service is fighting to keep its much-needed community program afloat as it faces the prospect of losing its home of five years as soon as next month.

Food Assist 3223 has been supporting residents experiencing food insecurity across the 3223 postcode for 10 years, supplying an estimated 1,000 people with nutritious food, essentials and social connection each month.

For the past five years, the not-for-profit organisation has operated rent-free out of St Andrew’s church in Portarlington’s Newcombe Street, but the recent sale of the site has left its volunteers scrambling to find a new location suitable to house the service into the future.

Meanwhile, demand for its foodshare program continues to grow, with the not-for-profit organisation recording a 50 per cent increase in 2023, and a further 50 per cent increase in 2024.

President Prue Drever said the organisation had explored every option available over the past six months in its search for a new home, and was now seeking help from the community to ensure the food relief service could continue to serve the people of Portarlington, St Leonards and Indented Head.

“We’re having real problems finding somewhere else to go.

“We need to get the word out there. There must be people in town that have something, [a place] where we can operate.

“I’m running out of gas and running out of time.”

Managed by a dedicated group of 45 volunteers, the not-for-profit organisation receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of the local community to keep its shelves stock for those in need.

“We’re a charity and we raise money, but we raise money for food,” Ms Drever said.

“We can’t afford a commercial rent – even if it’s 20 [or] 30 grand, it’s just not an option for us.”

If Food Assist 3223 is unable to find a new home, it is likely many people will be forced to go without.

“There are other food relief services outside of this area. The closest one is in Drysdale, but they can only cope with so many as well,” Ms Drever said.

The service’s needs are modest: a sink with running water to wash vegetables, electricity, a toilet for its volunteers, storage for its supplies and enough space for the shelves that allow the non-profit to create the feel of a supermarket for the people it supports.

“It’s a really difficult situation,” Ms Drever said.

“I’m really hoping this can be sorted out, because if it can’t, I’ve got nothing left… it’s going to affect so many people.

“We don’t have to be hungry in this country.”

If you can help Food Assist 3223 find a new home, email Prue Drever at [email protected] or phone 0493 398 160.