Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House: Feed Appeal grant helps Gippsland communities

Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House is providing food to vulnerable families in remote Gippsland thanks to a Feed Appeal grant.

Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House volunteer Noelene Savige uses the freezer made possible by a Feed Appeal grant.

Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House will continue to deliver food to vulnerable families in remote Gippsland thanks to a Feed Appeal grant.

The house runs a food rescue program, meals, a free food co-op and emergency assistance, which included providing meals to communities impacted by last year’s catastrophic bushfires.

Its $8360 grant went towards buying a commercial chest freezer, commercial slicer and PFD food staples.

The freezer helps make the house a “hub” for free and nutritious frozen meals, which can be delivered to communities including Benambra, Dargo, Gelantipy, Buchan and Bruthen.

It has also helped maintain better food safety standards.

Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House co-ordinator Leanne Jennings said the house had up to 80 volunteers and grants were essential for covering costs.

“Receiving a grant for an item of equipment means we can then progress on and accommodate our community’s needs,” Ms Jennings said.

She said the next project for the house was to secure grants to rebuild the community centre, after the bushfires showed a need to prepare for the next crisis.

The Feed Appeal, co-founded by food charity FareShare and News Corp Australia, raises funds to provide grants to community food relief charities to buy vans, freezers, fridges and equipment to help feed more people in need.

The funds also support FareShare, which runs Australia’s largest charity kitchens, to cook free, nutritious homestyle meals to stock the fridges and freezers of local charities that have been supported by Feed Appeal grants in the past.

To donate, visit feedappeal.org.au or roundup your grocery bill at your local Woolworths store.