Coker wants more help to tackle food insecurity

CORANGAMITE Labor federal member Libby Coker has praised local charities who are leading the way in ensuring families in the Geelong region are not going hungry.
Figures from the Victorian Chamber of Social Services (VCOSS) show that more than one in 10 residents in the Corangamite electorate are living in poverty.
New figures from Foodbank have also revealed the demand for food relief has risen 47 per cent on average nationally through the coronavirus pandemic.
Anti-Poverty Week is observed in Australia between October 11-17, and Ms Coker said she intended to use the week to highlight the need for more assistance to those facing food insecurity.
She said the pandemic was only making the problem worse.
Almost three in 10 Australians have experienced food insecurity for the first time in 2019, according to Foodbank.
Lana Purcell of Feed Me Bellarine and Surf Coast said she had witnessed first-hand just how COVID-19 deepened the issue of food insecurity in our region.
“The environment changed for so many people. For many, they have never had to experience this life before and asking for help was very foreign for a lot of people,” Ms Purcell said.
“I’ve tried to create an environment where people can reach out anonymously and for it to be a positive and safe space for everyone.”
Ms Purcell said numbers, which were already high before the pandemic, have now reached new levels with the organisation delivering more than 4,100 meals per week.
“The numbers were high even initially pre-pandemic because we did create that secure and safe place for people to access help.
“Now, with the ramifications of the changes to both JobKeeper and JobSeeker, our numbers are rising again.”
She said she had also experienced an increase in people contacting the service with mental health issues, and from those trapped within domestic violence situations.
“When someone is looking to escape that situation, food support is generally the first thing they need.
We are often the first line of support for people when they leave.”