General News
6 July, 2023
Rescued food providing meals
More than 10,000 meals have been provided from rescued food in Maryborough in the past 12 months, thanks to ongoing partnerships between Bendigo Foodshare and local organisations. An organisation that rescues food destined for landfill from...
More than 10,000 meals have been provided from rescued food in Maryborough in the past 12 months, thanks to ongoing partnerships between Bendigo Foodshareand local organisations.
An organisation that rescues food destined for landfill from supermarkets, hospitality businesses, food manufacturers and agricultural businesses, Bendigo Foodshare partners with more than 70 other organisations in central Victoria to help feed thousands of people each week.
Bendigo Foodshare partners with the Dunolly Neighbourhood House, Maryborough Community House, Maryborough Education Centre and Millhouse who receive rescued food and provide it to those who need it most.
Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy visited the Maryborough Community House earlier this week and said the partnership with local organisations is making a real difference.
“We hear so many stories from people that have been able to put a meal on the table for their family thanks to organisations like the Maryborough Community House,” she said.
“It really lifts those people’s self esteem at a time in life where they’re doing it tough.”
In the past 12 months, 5000 kilograms of food — the equivalent of 10,000 meals — was delivered to the community house to support vulnerable members of the community.
Ms Murphy said the support provided through community partnerships was more important than ever with cost of living stresses.
“With the cost of living increases we’re seeing a really concerning growth in the number of people seeking food relief,” she said.
“We’re also seeing a shift in the demographic of people accessing that relief — it’s not always people that are unemployed, we’re seeing and hearing about increased numbers of people seeking that relief where one or both partners have a job, but they can’t stretch their income far enough.
“There is a lot of hardship in our community, a lot of people are doing it tough at the moment and these sorts of partnerships are critical to our ability to be able to respond to that.”
Residents in need of food relief can find the nearest available through the AskIzzy website, available at askizzy.org.au