Tuesday 7 January 2025

BOOST FOR FOOD RELIEF IN NORTHERN VICTORIA

Communities facing food insecurity will have increased access to healthy food thanks to grants awarded through the Allan Labor Government’s Community Food Relief program.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced grants in Northern Victoria to help communities in need. Community organisations and neighbourhood houses will receive up to $50,000 for individual projects and up to $75,000 for partnership projects to distribute fresh food and pantry staples.

The $4.5 million Community Food Relief Program includes Local Grants announced today, and Coordination Grants announced in October, helping to respond to the rising demand for food relief amid cost-of-living pressures experienced by individuals and families.

Grants will boost the capacity of local community organisations to provide food relief, through expanding food relief activities, facility upgrades, support and upskilling of volunteers and delivering initiatives that address the underlying causes of food insecurity.

Grant recipients in the region include:

• Seymour & District Community House has received $42,114 to establish a large-scale dedicated food pantry and storage facility, providing a reliable and accessible food hub supporting the Seymour Food Relief Collaborative.
• Waminda Community House has received $71,666 to create a coordinated community model to strengthen food relief and food security efforts in Benalla and enhance access to nutritious food.
• Cobram Community House has received $16,800 to provide food parcels and frozen meals for people in need, with a new microwave for use by the community. Cooking workshops will include take-home ingredient packs.
• Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre has received $36,050 to expand the community garden and upgrade kitchen to increase capacity to store produce and support cooking of meals on-site.
• Sustainable King Valley has received $59,754 to establish a new community food hub with increased capacity and storage and expanded opening hours, and upgrade kitchen facilities at King Valley Children's Services to support community meals and workshops.
• Yarrawonga Mulwala Community & Learning Centre has received $43,500 to increase capacity and sustainability through strengthened volunteer engagement, youth-specific and youth-led programs; purchase a fridge and core chilled produce; expand community garden for supply of nutritionally and locally grown fresh food.
• Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre has received $24,000 to continue the delivery of free food and meals programs and establish a robust community model, including needs assessment, volunteer training, and strengthening local partnerships.
• Numurkah Community Learning Centre has received $11,400 to train and upskill volunteers to prepare easy and nutritious meal packs for community members to take home.
• South Shepparton Community House has received $26,700 to purchase kitchen equipment; expand delivery of food relief program through food purchasing, distribution costs and support services and host a monthly community lunch.
• Rochester Community House and Girgarree Community House to share in $61,425 to purchase food and equipment to grow and store greater quantities of fresh produce and expand cooking programs.
• Crossenvale Community Group Inc have received $41,842 to upgrade their kitchen.
• The Grain Shed Church of Christ Swan Hill has received $16,000 to expand their delivery of food hampers within the community.
• Donald Learning Group have received $24,724 to purchase additional food and gift cards for use at local butcher and supermarkets. It also includes upgraded freezer and equipment to enhance safety and efficiency for food pantry and hampers programs.
• Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) have received $32,500 to expand culturally-appropriate food relief services across Mildura and into Swan Hill LGA, including additional food relief packages and grocery gift cards for locally-owned ethnic stores, engaging new volunteers and empowering community members with practical skills.

Since 2020, the Labor Government has invested more than $56 million to strengthen Victoria’s food relief system, including support for six Regional Foodshares.

In addition, $3.3 million in operational funding is provided to Foodbank Victoria each year, as well as $10 million to support the establishment of Foodbank’s community food centres in Morwell and Ballarat.

To see the full list of funded projects, visit vic.gov.au/community-food-relief-program-local-grants.

Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“These grants will deliver much needed food relief to those who need it, and provide a helping hand for Victorians in need so they can get back on their feet.”

“We know our wonderful community organisations have the local knowledge and connections to best understand and respond to local needs, and to provide food relief where it’s needed most.”