Appeal raises $90k for food insecurity

THIS year’s Give Where You Live Foundation’s Feed Geelong Appeal has raised almost $90,000 to help fight hunger in the Geelong community.

With the foundation’s latest Food for Thought research showing demand for food relief has surged over the past year, chief executive officer Bill Mithen said he was humbled by the generosity of the Geelong community.

“Thank you to everyone who supported the 2023 Feed Geelong Appeal.

“We’re excited to announce it raised almost $90,000 to provide much-needed support to food relief agencies across the region.

“The generosity of the Geelong community knows no limits and we are incredibly humbled by the amount of support we received for the appeal this year.

“We know there are people in our community who are putting food last, and often it’s the thing they are going without more than anything else.

“The funds raised will stay in the Geelong community to support families and individuals who need help to put food on the table for their family.”

He said demand for food relief services in the G21 region was expected to continue to rise.

“Each week food relief agencies in our region are providing over 34,293 meals and distributing almost 22,930kg of food to clients.”

The support of the community is vital in helping address food insecurity in the G21 region, and funds raised in the appeal will help provide access to food for someone in need.

“We can’t undertake the work we do without the generous support of our community,” Mr Mithen said.

“This includes more than 30 local businesses and schools who participated in the Lunch Money Challenge and donated their lunch or coffee money during the Appeal.

“Special thanks must go to Mount Duneed Regional Primary School, Iona College, Lyons Construction and Auswide Plumbing and Civil who were among the top fundraisers.

“I’d also like to thank all of our Appeal Partners. Goop Digital for donating $5 for every social media post using the #FeedGeelong hashtag, our matched giving partners The Gordon, GSC Finance, Australian Tyre Traders, Associated Cold Tread Tyres, and Rex Gorrell Ford as well as our media partners Times News Group, K rock and bay 93.9.”

The appeal culminated with an open day at The Paddock, featuring ambassador Simon Toohey cooking produce grown at the farm.

The community can donate to Feed Geelong at any time throughout the year, by heading to the dedicated website at feedgeelong.com.au or the Give Where You Live Foundation’s website at givewhereyoulive.com.au