June food drive underway

BENDIGO Foodshare is calling on local donations in a month-long effort to secure pantry staples for people in need.

CEO Michelle Murphy said at least 5000 kilograms of food items are needed to meet the demand of Central Victorian welfare agencies.

“Food relief organisations are seeing an increase in people and families at serious risk of food insecurity and hunger, including an increasing number of those asking for help for the very first time, as well as those facing homelessness,” she said.

Throughout June, bins are located at local Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA supermarkets to collect food items such as pasta, rice, cereals, canned vegetables, tinned fruit, tinned meat, long-life milk, spreads and cooking oil.

Ms Murphy said food insecurity is increasing across the region.

“We’re seeing food distress affecting an increasing number of people who aren’t unable to afford to put food on the table,” she said.

“It’s really tough for many, being hit from many angles; the ongoing increase to basic living expenses, skyrocketing housing and rental prices, fuel increases and higher electricity prices through the colder months.

“The social and economic impacts are always hardest on the most vulnerable people in our community, particularly casual workers who live paycheque to paycheque.”

According to Foodshare, food donors find it difficult to source longer lasting food. The organisation’s two food drives, in June and November, look to address this.

“A donation to our food drive is a small, but important thing that we can all do to help our community,” Ms Murphy said.

Both fresh food and pantry items are accepted year-round at Bendigo Foodshare’s warehouse at 2/43 Havilah Road, Long Gully between 9am to 2pm, Monday to Friday.