Numurkah Freemasons have once again answered the call to support Shepparton Foodshare, with a generous donation of $15,000 to help with annual operating costs.
Shepparton Foodshare chairman Jeremy Rensford said the donation would go towards annual fuel costs for the charity's vans, which volunteers drive five days a week to receive food donations.
Mr Rensford said with no guaranteed funding, the critical service relied on the support of the community and its own fundraising efforts to keep its doors open to the 100 emergency relief agencies, churches and schools that collect donated food for the people they support.
“Not knowing where your next meal may come from can happen to any one of us. Food insecurity continues to rise — last year Shepparton Foodshare distributed 20 per cent more food than the previous year, or the equivalent of around 120,000 more meals,” Mr Rensford said.
He said last year a record 380,000 kg of food was collected from Foodshare by registered agencies and distributed via school breakfast programs, community meals programs, food hampers and to individuals.
Mr Rensford said ways to support Foodshare included a tax-deductible donation via , a food drive or by volunteering three to five hours each week.www.sheppartonfoodshare.org.au
Last week's cheque presentation was made by Freemasons Foundation Victoria, supported by the Goulburn Valley St George Lodge and Rupertswood/Numurkah Lodge.
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