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General News

16 August, 2024

Club’s food bank open

After pulling the shutters down on its popular Maryborough market, the Carisbrook Lions Club has launched a new local initiative which will offer much-needed relief against the cost-of-living crisis.

By Prealene Khera

A Lions’ Share of fresh and free produce is up for grabs every Tuesday as part of the Carisbrook Lions Club’s newly launched food bank. Locals can expect to see group members like Chris Maher, Anne-maree Clements, Sally Turton, George Nagy and Rose Lucas, helping people bag essentials at the pantry.
A Lions’ Share of fresh and free produce is up for grabs every Tuesday as part of the Carisbrook Lions Club’s newly launched food bank. Locals can expect to see group members like Chris Maher, Anne-maree Clements, Sally Turton, George Nagy and Rose Lucas, helping people bag essentials at the pantry.

Getting the ‘Lions’ Share’ of fresh fruit and vegetables will become easier for residents in Carisbrook following the opening of a food bank in town.

It has been brought to the region by the Lions club in partnership with not-for-profit organisation, and food suppliers, FoodBank Ballarat.

The community will be able to access free produce through the program, once every week.

According to the club’s Katinka Hilder, who was instrumental in setting up Lions’ Share, the venture didn’t just “happen over night”.

Several years ago, she and Ann-maree Clements, a former member and now volunteer, used to distribute food to those in need as part of another food donation drive.

Then, Ms Hilder said, the demand increased and the Maryborough Salvation Army decided to take the program on — which left a gap in Carisbrook.

“[We] continued to look for alternatives for the community,” she said.

“Finally, FoodBank seemed like the perfect solution — at the time they were delivering food to organisations for distribution.

“Unfortunately, Carisbrook was too far from their Melbourne center and their trucks were only providing to much larger towns.”

However, a couple of months ago, FoodBank opened a warehouse in Ballarat, only 50 minutes away from Carisbrook.

And suddenly, the gap was ready to be filled.

“The food is picked from Ballarat,” Ms Hilder said.

“Several Lions club members and volunteers manage the food after it arrives — then residents from Carisbrook and other surrounding small rural towns are supplied with a bag of fresh produce for a gold coin donation.

“We are all excited about our new venture. As a Lion I am proud to be in a situation to provide for our local community.”

Every Tuesday, from 12 to 1:30 pm, locals can visit the food bank on 9 Green Street in Carisbrook.

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