Feed Victoria Appeal helping rural communities weather a tough year
Coronavirus was just the latest crisis to hit many rural areas already devastated by droughts and a horrific bushfire season. Many small charities have worked hard to continue serving their communities during this time – but they need your help.
Wyndham Leader
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Four years of drought and a summer of bushfires devastated Bairnsdale long before COVID-19 turned all our lives upside down.
While the global pandemic was the latest in a string of crises to batter the area, the Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House team rose to the challenge to serve their community.
Unable to provide their dine-in service due to social distancing rules, the team shifted to takeaway meals – cooking 1200 a week – and food hampers.
“We’ve been open throughout all three crises, we haven’t had a break in months,” manager Leanne Jennings said.
YOU CAN HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE BY DONATING TO THE FEED VICTORIA APPEAL
She paid tribute to the team’s hardworking staff and volunteers, many of whom had dealt with the emotional drain of preparing their homes for an unforgiving bushfire season.
They also lost their main sources of fundraising, unable to hire out their space or open their op shop for three months.
A Feed Victoria $6600 grant last year came at just the right time – enabling them to buy a second oven.
“We’re now using the oven every day for our takeaway meals,” Ms Jennings said.
“Before it was a bit of a juggle with hot trays and making space in the oven.
“It’s been a huge help – we would never have been able to raise the money for another oven on our own.”
Warrnambool and District Foodshare was another charity to benefit from a Feed Victoria 2019 grant, receiving $3000 for kitchen equipment.
The group is currently providing more than 300 meals a day and 100 food hampers a week for people in crisis.
Feed Appeal chief executive Katherine Gokavi-Whaley said the 2020 appeal had received double last year’s number of rural grant applications.
Sixty-two per cent of rural charities say their communities have been devastated by at least one – in many cases, two – natural disasters over the past 12 months, on top of COVID-19.
“Many (rural charities) are indicating an upwards of 80 per cent increase in demand on their programs, with the majority being people who are reaching out for the first time,” Ms Gokavi-Whaley said.
Feed Appeal is joining forces with Squeaky Gate Growers Co, under a new partnership to bolster the appeal’s Rural Grants Program.
The Australian olive oil maker’s support will provide more than 100,000 additional meals a year, over three years, to nourish rural communities.
Just a $2 donation to the Feed Appeal can provide four meals to #feedafamily.
Every dollar donated goes back into the community as grants.
The appeal works in collaboration with Leader Community News and FareShare, and is powered by Newman’s Own Foundation.
Details: feedappeal.org.au
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