More Food Relief On Way

VIC Premier

The Victorian Government is ensuring those who are doing it tough during the pandemic can continue putting a meal on the table, with funding to deliver food to Victorians who need it most.

Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Anthony Carbines today announced 13 organisations will share in $1.67 million from the latest funding round of the Food Relief Financial Reserve.

The Financial Reserve was established to provide extra support to community food relief providers, who are delivering more food to vulnerable Victorians in response to the challenges of the pandemic.

More than 2.5 million meals have already been delivered and 46 full-time equivalent food relief jobs supported through the $4.33 million released from the Reserve to date.

Organisations receiving funding through this round include:

  • OzHarvest
  • FareShare
  • Foodbank Victoria
  • SecondBite
  • Latrobe City Council
  • Ballarat Community Health
  • MHA Care Ltd
  • Geelong Food Relief Centre
  • Bendigo Foodshare
  • Mildura Foodshare
  • Warrnambool and District Foodshare
  • Shepparton Foodshare
  • Albury Wodonga Regional Foodshare

Through the Financial Reserve and other programs, the Government has invested more than $39 million to expand community food relief across Victoria since February 2020.

This includes $5 million in grants to 93 community food relief organisations for additional storage and equipment to deliver more food relief to Victorians in need across the state.

The Government also established a Food Relief Taskforce to provide system leadership and advice on strengthening and enhancing the community food relief system in Victoria.

For more information, visit providers.dffh.vic.gov.au/community-food-relief.

As stated by Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Anthony Carbines

“We are ensuring a warm meal is available for everyone who needs it – because no Victorian should worry about having enough to eat.”

“This funding brings our total investment in food relief for Victorians to more than $39 million since the start of the pandemic.”

“With this assistance, food relief organisations across the state will be able to continue their important work getting food out to vulnerable members of our community in a COVIDSafe way.”

/Public Release. View in full here.