The food distribution charity received $30 000 of its $120 000 budget this morning to help cover costs at its Mooroopna site.
The contribution is part of the Greater Shepparton City Council 2019/20 budget allocations.
Councillors and staff including Mayor Kim O’Keeffe, Deputy Mayor Shelley Sutton and Bruce Giovanetti received a tour of the facility this morning.
“We are happy to donate $30 000 to Foodshare because we know about the incredible job they’re doing,” Cr O’Keeffe said.
“You only need to look at their facility to know the opportunity we have to help people across our community.
“The people they help is very broad – whether it’s rough sleeping or people with rental stress and their financials aren’t stretching far enough.
“To have this facility in Greater Shepparton is such a necessity but we are so fortunate to have many industry and businesses supplying the food.
“There are so many organisations that just regularly commit to their donations which is just extraordinary,” Cr O’Keeffe said.
The $30 000 contribution is the same as the previous budget however Cr O’Keeffe confirm there is the opportunity to “look at increasing it moving forward.”
Foodshare operations coordinator Bec Nicoll said the $30 000 is a huge contribution.
“Our operation costs are about $10 000 per month including electricity, wages for three part time staff, maintenance, safety equipment, vans and transport costs.
“We’re a charity and don’t have any recurrent government funding coming in. Our entire budget comes from fundraising except for this grant from council,” Ms Nicoll said.
Foodshare receives donated food, toiletries, sanitary items and even clothes.
It then uses about 100 registered agencies across the Goulburn Valley to distribute it to people who are experiencing homelessness, health problems or financial stress.
Some of the food donations include 1000 dozen eggs per fortnight. It receives 10 000kgs of other food donations per month from local supermarkets and about 20 000kgs from local food manufacturers.
The Mooroopna facility includes 23 active volunteers working four days a week to ensure to food is distributed on time to the agencies racking up more than 100 hours.
Among the volunteers are husband and wife team Bruce and Carol Merrett - who won the Greater Shepparton City Council 2019 Volunteer Team of the Year.
Mr Merrett said they volunteer three times per week at Foodshare.
“I believe the little bit that we do is helping other people. I’ve seen things around Shepparton that’s very depressing.
“You go around the river and there are people living in tents with no food. You think if I can do something than it’s at least something,” Mr Merrett said.
The couple also volunteer at St Vinnies in Kyabram.
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