Thousands of hungry Wyndham families claim food relief packages

As Melbourne’s harsh lockdown drags on Wyndham Council is handing out hundreds of food hampers a week to hungry cash strapped families. Here’s what they can do to help you.

Food hampers have been a primary focus of Wyndham Council’s pandemic response. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Thousands of desperate and unemployed Wyndham families driven to the wall by Victoria’s harsh lockdown are struggling to put food on the table.

More than 3000 emergency food parcels have been handed out to hungry households by the council’s Youth Resource Centre Food Bank and from a community kitchen set up at the Encore Events Centre.

Cash strapped residents on JobKeeper have also been offered a $100 rates rebate by the council, while pensioners are entitled to claim $50 off their rates bill on top of the State Government’s pensioner rate rebate.

Wyndham is Victoria’s biggest virus hotspot where the most virus cases have been recorded.

As of Wednesday 2172 infections were recorded across Wyndham, with 209 people still battling the deadly illness.

Wyndham Council chief executive Kelly Grigsby said the council was the community’s closest tier of government and staff were keenly aware of locals’ need for support.

Staff had set up a phone check-in service to reach out to socially isolated individuals to chat and provide a listening ear, according to information provided by the council.

And Ms Grigsby said $2 million worth of grants had so far been given to 285 stressed business owners to help keep them afloat, as well as waived more than $1 million in council fees.

“Wyndham city takes seriously our role in supporting our residents through this pandemic,” Ms Grigsby said in a statement.

“Almost all ratepayers who applied for a deferral on their annual rates were granted, except a very small number with outstanding rates from previous years.

“We are also continuing to work with the State Government, local service providers and key agencies and community leaders to ensure our response is co-ordinated and addressing areas of need.”

Visit Wyndham Council’s website for more information on their COVID-19 support services.

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