Shepparton FoodShare operations co-ordinator Grace Grieve said a successful funding application to the Victorian Government has allowed the charity to pay local restaurants and cafes to supply 2100 cooked meals, and also purchase vital food staples such as rice, pasta and sauces.
Meals program Food Link supported by Greater Shepparton Foundation will help deliver the food to vulnerable families and individuals through winter.
Ms Grieve said the funding will allow FoodShare to spend more than $20,000 on cooked meals, and more than $35,000 on food staples for distribution through Food Link networks.
“It's such a luxury for us to be able to purchase food. It's not part of our model, because it's not sustainable, we always rely on donations. This is like winning the lottery,” Ms Grieve said.
She said because of COVID-19 restrictions numbers are restricted in FoodShare's Mooroopna warehouse, and volunteers are now busy packing boxes and family hampers with purchased food.
“Food staples will be purchased from local suppliers who have generously supported FoodShare over the years and who are now doing it tough themselves due to the impacts of the coronavirus,” Ms Grieve said.
Shepparton FoodShare supplies 100 emergency relief agencies, churches, community meals programs and schools with free food for distribution to the needy. Last year, demand for food increased from 300,000 kg to 380,000 kg.
