Foodbank Victoria says hunger hits close to home

PEOPLE needing food relief are no longer just those on the street — they could be people living in your street, a leading charity says.

Food bank Victoria chief executive Dave McNamara at the organisation’s Yarraville warehouse. Picture: Mark Wilson

PEOPLE needing food relief are no longer just those on the street — they could be people living in your street, a leading charity says.

Foodbank Victoria chief executive Dave McNamara said working families had become the most common group of people requesting help from food charities, ahead of single parents and homeless people.

“Five years ago working families weren’t even on the radar but the demand has developed over time due to housing affordability, utility costs and stagnant low wages,” Mr McNamara said.

“The one discretionary thing in a family’s budget becomes the food.”

Charities can now apply for Feed Melbourne Appeal grants of up to $15,000 for kitchen, storage or transport equipment to help them make the most of rescued food.

This year charities have the option to apply for grants to buy non-perishable items from Foodbank Victoria or PFD Food Services.

While the appeal aims to help reduce waste through food rescue, Mr McNamara said Foodbank was seeing a rise in charity requests for items such as UHT milk, breakfast cereals, pasta and rice.

The Feed Melbourne Appeal, founded by Leader Community News and food charity FareShare, raises money each year to help charities boost their capacity and collect more food to help people in need.

Now in its ninth year, the appeal has raised more than $3.2 million for 147 Victorian food charities.

Every dollar donated to the appeal goes to food charities including FareShare, which receives a third of contributions.

Grant applications for 2017 close on June 23 at 5pm, and you can also still donate to the appeal.

Details: feedmelbourne.org.au