Bendigo shares in funds for food relief

BENDIGO Foodshare is to share in one-and-a-half million dollars of State Government funding for six regional food relief services.

The funding will be distributed among Bendigo, Albury Wodonga, Shepparton, Mildura, Warrnambool and Geelong foodshares through the Regional Food Security Alliance, a body formed in 2022 to co-ordinate regional foodshare activities and of which Bendigo Foodshare is a founding member.

Earlier, Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence announced a new grant program for food relief providers, the $4.5 million Community Food Relief Program.

The government is accepting applications for two streams of grants – Local Grants of between $10,000 and $50,000 or up to $75,000 for partnerships to support activities in a local area, and Co-ordination Grants of between $100,000 and $300,000 to fund projects of combined regional and statewide providers.

Ms Spence said the state’s six foodshares collectively sourced enough food for more than six million meals for Victorians in 2023-24.

“The foodshares supply food they source through rescue, donation and purchase to local organisations that provide food relief such as welfare agencies, schools and communities,” she said.

“Through the RFSA the foodshares will also work together to share resources, manage large-scale food donations, purchase cost-effective bulk food, and co-ordinate logistics.”

Ms Spence said in the 12 months to June this year, the RFSA sourced and distributed more than 170,000 kilograms of food donations worth more than $2.48 million.

“Additionally, the six foodshares distributed more than three million kilograms of food,” she said.

“Foodshares are supported by dedicated local volunteers and have experienced a 19 per cent growth in numbers, from 840 active volunteers in the 2022-23 financial year to more than 1000 volunteers in 2023-24.”

Ms Spence said the State Government had increased funding for foodshares by 15 per cent on the previous year in response to higher demand.

“We are grateful that the Allan Government is recognising the critical role regional food relief organisations play in their local communities with the announcement of this vital funding,” Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy said.

“Bendigo Foodshare services a large area of around 19,000 sq kms across Central Victoria, rescuing and redistributing food through a network of 90-plus partners to get food out to those in need.

“We distribute food to around 13,000 people every week. Thanks to a large volunteer workforce, we were able to rescue and repurpose around 800 tonnes of food last financial year, redirecting it from waste to the homes of families struggling to make ends meet.

“While we have a highly cost-effective model, managing our operations as well as over 300 volunteers does require some paid employees.  Like all businesses, our operating costs are also increasing including utility costs and the costs to keep our fleet on the road. Bendigo Foodshare’s share of the funding represents around 25 per cent of our costs to operate, so this announcement is significant.”

Ms Murphy said a further 25 per cent of Bendigo Fooshare’s funding has come from VicHealth in recent years.