Feed Geelong Appeal nears launch

THE Give Where You Live Foundation is gearing up for a week-long campaign this month to help fight hunger as demand for its services outstrips its ability to supply those in need.

The appeal runs from Monday, October 10 until World Food Day on October 16, and foundation chief executive officer Bill Mithen is urging the local community to get involved to make sure nobody goes hungry.

“Across the local Geelong community demand for food relief is continuing to increase.

“This year the Give Where You Live Foundation has only been able to fill 65 per cent of local requests for food vouchers.”

To assist in this year’s efforts, the foundation has teamed up with Goop Digital to secure a $5 donation from the company each time someone uses the #FeedGeelong hashtag on social media during the week-long appeal.

A separate community campaign encourages people to contribute their lunch or coffee money to the Feed Geelong Appeal on Brown Paper Bag Day (Friday, October 14), with all donations to be doubled up to $15,000 in a joint deal with the Mulberry Group, The Gordon and Viva Energy.

In keeping with this year’s World Food Day theme of Leave NO ONE behind, the Give Where You Live Foundation is approaching 70 years of helping people experiencing crisis, promoting food security, and supporting food assistance across greater Geelong.

Following the Pyramid Building Society collapse in the early 1990s, the foundation established the Direct Voucher Assistance Program, but is now reporting a 24 per cent increase in demand for emergency food assistance vouchers from local support agencies since 2020.

Last year’s Feed Geelong Appeal raised $31,000 to support the local food relief sector, a benchmark the organisation is hoping to improve on this year.

To get involved or make a donation, head to feedgeelong.com.au