3 minute read
Foodbank:Vic
"Foodbank Victoria could not provide the services we do without the generous support from fellow Victorians, like Pressroom Philanthropy."
Advertisement
- Dave McNamara, Foodbank Vic CEO.
Foodbank Victoria has been supporting vulnerable Victorians for more than ninety years, working with 533 agencies across Victoria to deliver food relief to those who need it the most. The last eighteen months have been some of their most challenging. It started with the bushfires in the summer of 2019-20 and rolled right into a global pandemic that continues to displace Victorians today.
“Foodbank Victoria could not provide the services we do without the generous support from fellow Victorians and through partnerships like the one we share with Pressroom Philanthropy.” Says Dave McNamara, Foodbank CEO. Pressroom recently donated a brand-new refrigerated Mercedes Sprinter van to assist Foodbank with transporting produce and supplies to every corner of Victoria.
The new fully refridgerated Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van is equipped with all the essential items that Foodbank needs for pick ups and most important of all, food deliveries.
“Phil and the team at Pressroom Partners have been long term friends of Foodbank Victoria. We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing friendship and support. The practical impact that an additional vehicle on the road will have cannot be underestimated. This van provides us with the ability to get more food out to those who need it the most.” said Dave.
Foodbank Victoria is constantly looking at ways to get more food out to Victorians in need. 2020 saw the introduction of the International Student Pop-up Store, providing free food to students ‘stuck’ in Australia, who were not eligible for any financial support during lockdown.
The International Student Pop-up store has had more than 45,000 students from over 120 different countries through the door since it opened. Recent lockdowns have seen numbers spike again with an average increase of 42% each time casual work environments are forced to shut down. In partnership with the Australian Red Cross, Foodbank Victoria also provides food and personal hygiene hampers to those who are required to isolate during lockdown.
During the two most recent lockdown periods Foodbank Victoria created the first ever ‘drive-thru food relief service’ that saw more than 800 families visit the warehouse to receive food hampers, pet food, nappies, and personal care items with a ‘no questions, no contact’ approach.
These services are so well received. Those vulnerable Victorians, isolating and helping keep Victorians safe, feel a real sense of relief when these hampers are delivered.
Recent recipient Helen got in touch to share how the delivery impacted her: “I’m currently in isolation and have just received my provisions pack from Foodbank Victoria. I’m utterly awestruck at how much there is and how well considered it all is, I’m actually shaking”. Foodbank Victoria continues to be so grateful for the funds and equipment donated that make it possible for these programs to take place.
“To provide some context, the Pressroom donated, brand-new refrigerated Mercedes Sprinter van will provide capacity to deliver more than 1800 kilograms of food every day. That is two and a half pallets worth of food per delivery. Over twelve months the donation by Pressroom Philanthropy will deliver more than 430,000 kilograms of food to both our partner agencies and the Foodbank Victoria International Student Pop-up Store. That truly is a life changing amount of food for those in need.” said Dave McNamara.
- Helen - Recent recipient of Foodbank Vic hamper delivery.
Foodbank is now the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia – servicing over 2,400 charities in every state and territory to enable them to provide food to 815,000 people a month.
Find out more at www.foodbank.org. au/?state=vic
