FareShare is powering through COVID-19 crisis
They may have lost 800 volunteers due to social distancing, but this food rescue kitchen has doubled production to feed people in need during the COVID-19 crisis. And FareShare warns hardship is going to worsen as stage 3 restrictions return across Melbourne.
Wyndham Leader
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An Abbotsford charity is powering through the COVID-19 crisis, providing record numbers of meals for people in need despite losing its 800-strong volunteer crew.
And with stage 3 restrictions back for another six weeks FareShare is determined to keep serving the community.
The food rescue organisation this week sourced halal-certified meat to be able to provide thousands of culturally appropriate meals to tenants locked down in North Melbourne’s public housing towers.
This was the latest COVID-19 initiative from the kitchen, which had to suspend its 800 volunteers in March.
With help from Woolworths, ALH Group and the State Government’s Working for Victoria program, FareShare was able to switch to a smaller, paid workforce of chefs.
The team has cooked 233,442 meals in June and 276,798 in May – double the number the Abbotsford kitchen churned out in May 2019.
“We’re really proud of the difference we’ve been able to make during COVID, including cooking around 300,000 meals for international students stranded by the crisis,” Kitchen manager Crickette DerJeu said.
“But with the new lockdown we are concerned hardship will go up a notch again so we will keep our foot on the pedal and keep our kitchen working.”
Woolworths has also played a key role in FareShare’s work by donating 15,600kg of meat and 32,000kg of fresh vegetables to the charity in May alone, an extension of their 12-year partnership.
“At Woolworths we are incredibly proud of our partnership with FareShare and that during such challenging times for the community we have been able to work even closer to help feed more vulnerable Australians in need,” Woolworths group chief executive Brad Banducci said.
FareShare is a collaborator in the Feed Appeal and received enough funds from last year’s appeal to provide 170,000 meals in Victoria.
The Feed Appeal helps charities, including FareShare, boost their capacity to serve their communities through grants for food, kitchen equipment and transport vehicles.
You can help charities continuing to help their neighbourhoods during lockdown by donating to the Feed Appeal or FareShare.
Details: feedappeal.org.au
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