Over the next six weeks, 40 donation bins will be located at all 18 major supermarkets across Bendigo, including ALDI, Coles, IGA and Woolworths. Supporters can also donate at Bendigo Toyota, a long-time partner, who will once again be hosting drive-through drop-offs and food collection points at Bendigo Marketplace throughout August.
“Our goal is ambitious, but it’s matched by the generosity of our community,” said Michelle Murphy, CEO of Bendigo Foodshare. “Last year, we reached our 10,000kg target, double what we’d ever collected before. It’s proof that when people come together, incredible things happen.”
The Winter Food Drive is a lifeline for more than 95 local food relief organisations that Bendigo Foodshare supports. Every week, they collectively help feed around 15,500 people.
“Winter is a really difficult time for many,” Ms Murphy continued. “With the rising cost of living and energy bills, families are being forced to make impossible choices, like whether to heat their home or put food on the table. That’s why this campaign matters so much.”
The most-needed items include pantry staples that are hard for the charity to source: pasta, rice, UHT milk, canned foods and breakfast cereals.
“Pantry staples are absolutely essential,” said Ms Murphy. “These are the basics people rely on to make a meal, but they’re surprisingly hard for us to source locally.”
“Even just picking up a couple of extra items during your next grocery shop and dropping them into the specially marked yellow donation bins can make a real difference,” Ms Murphy added. “Every item helps and every act of kindness puts food on the table of someone in need.”
All donations of non-perishable food are welcome and can also be dropped off directly to Bendigo Foodshare’s warehouse at 277 Breen Street, Golden Square, between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
“We especially encourage businesses, schools, clubs and community groups to host their own food drives,” said Ms Murphy. “It’s easy to get started, just grab a box and download posters from our website.”
“Behind every can of soup or box of cereal is someone in our community who is doing it tough,” said Ms Murphy. “Your donation might be small to you, but it’s everything to them.”
More information can be found at www.bendigofoodshare.org.au/fooddrive.
