Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence visited the Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare to announce a further $1.5 million for six regional Foodshares to provide healthy food for Victorians in need.
The funding will continue supporting operations of the Foodshares in Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, Mildura, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Geelong, and coordination of their services through the Regional Food Security Alliance (RFSA).
“We are continuing to invest in the food relief sector, which is experiencing high demand due to the rising cost of living,” said minister for Carers and Volunteers, Ros Spence.
“I am proud to continue to support the state’s six regional Foodshares and the RFSA to do their important work in getting food to local organisations that put meals on the table for regional Victorians who need it most.”
In the 2023-2024 financial year, the state’s six Foodshares collectively sourced enough food for more than 6 million meals for people living in 35 local government areas across the state.
The Foodshares supply food they source through rescue, donation and purchase to local organisations that provide food relief such as welfare agencies, schools and community centres.
Through the RFSA the Foodshares also work together to share resources, manage large scale food donations, purchase cost-effective bulk food, and coordinate logistics.
In the twelve months to June 2024, the RFSA sourced and distributed more than 170,000 kilograms of food donations worth over $2.48 million.
Additionally, the six Foodshares distributed more than 3 million kilograms of food.
Foodshares are supported by dedicated local volunteers and have experienced a 19 per cent growth in numbers – from 840 active volunteers in the 2022-23 financial year to more than 1,000 volunteers in 2023-24.