Minister for carers and volunteers Ros Spence visited Alex Makes Meals to announce that 133 organisations will share $9 million through the Community Food Relief Program.
Doubling the program’s funding this year to deliver fresh and nutritious food across the state, the program increases supplies for large food relief organisations and supports volunteers on the frontline. Seven Coordination Grants will help large providers expand services, while 126 Local Grants will strengthen community support.
Alex Makes Meals will use its Coordination Grant to set up 20 new food relief programs in north east Melbourne, delivering more than 70,000 fresh meals through partner agencies. FareShare will use funding to deliver Meals for the Mob in partnership with First Nations communities.
Drummond Street Services will receive a Local Grant to run cooking workshops and a community meals program for young people living in social housing in Collingwood.
In Latrobe, Morwell Neighbourhood House will use its Local Grant to run a community pilot that transforms local produce into preserved foods and shared meals, boosting food literacy and helping households stretch their budgets.
The Victorian Budget 2025/26 provides $18 million to expand food relief across Victoria, bringing total investment in food security to more than $74 million.
“No one should go hungry – these grants will help organisations big and small deliver fresh, nutritious food to families and support the volunteers who make it happen every day,” said minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence.