Community rallies against festive season hardships

THE local community is banding together this festive season to ensure no one goes hungry.

Leading the charge, Feed Geelong has launched their annual “Where Can I Eat” guide for Summer 2023-2024, detailing crucial information on Christmas lunches, regular meal services, and emergency food relief options throughout Geelong, Surf Coast, and Bellarine.

This initiative arrives as new research from The Salvation Army revealed over 5.3 million Australians (26%) may struggle to afford a Christmas meal this year.

The research, conducted by PureProfile, surveyed 2,005 people and found a significant increase in stress levels around the holidays, and that almost one in 10 Australians will rely on charitable support to get by this Christmas.

Of those people, almost half (48.9%) will be reaching out for the first time.

The Salvation Army’s Major Brendan Nottle said the need was greater this year as people battle the cost-of-living crisis.”Behind every statistic presented here is a real person – many desperately struggling to get by and making painful decisions on what to go without just to survive,” Mr Nottle said.

“Never have we seen a time where the gap between the rich and poor has been so great.”

There are several Christmas Day lunches on offer in the region.

 

Geelong Community Christmas Day Lunch is set to take place at Christ Church Geelong, corner of Moorabool & McKillop Streets, with doors opening around noon.

St Marys Church in Colac is also hosting a free Christmas Lunch for local residents, with bookings available at 5231 2177, and meal delivery and collection services provided.

The Salvation Army is hosting a lunch for singles from 11:30 am to 2:15 pm at 92 Cox Road, Corio.

There are also other food services available, many of which offer emergency food relief daily.

The Outpost, at the corner of Clare Street and Transit Place, Geelong, will remain open over the Christmas and New Year period, serving meals seven nights a week from 7:30pm to 9:30pm and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Feed Me Bellarine in Ocean Grove, located at 24 Sinclair Street, operates a café and market from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm. Emergency food relief is available daily.

Feed Me Surf Coast in Torquay, at 7-9 Cylinders Drive, hosts its market on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 am to 7 pm, and also provides daily emergency food relief.

Feed Me Geelong in Newtown offers emergency food relief every day. Enquiries can be made by emailing [email protected] or calling 0422 798 791.

For detailed information on food relief services, visit feedgeelong.com.au/2023/11/where-can-i-eat.

Donate to the Salvos salvationarmy.org.au