Media release – Bendigo Foodshare launches Fresh Food Appeal as supplies hit critical lows
Fresh food supplies at Bendigo Foodshare have reached critically low levels, prompting the charity to launch a Fresh Food Appeal today to help keep fruit and vegetables flowing to locals doing it tough.
The charity says its fresh food supplies are at some of the lowest levels seen in years, with fresh produce volumes down 21% compared to the same three-month period last year. With demand continuing to grow, the charity’s supplies are being stretched increasingly thin and it’s calling on the community to help provide food relief across the region.
Bendigo Foodshare now provides food to 17,236 people every week across Central Victoria, distributing food through 110 food relief partners.
For the first time in the charity’s history, Bendigo Foodshare has placed a freeze on accepting new food relief partners because existing supplies are already being stretched too thin.
Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy said the organisation was facing a particularly concerning shortage of fresh produce.
“Our shelves are bare, in particular we are struggling to provide enough fresh fruits and vegetables which is the number one thing our food relief partners request,” Ms Murphy said.
“Over the past few months, we’ve seen less fresh produce coming through our warehouse as supermarkets continue to reduce their food waste and less produce becomes available through our statewide food relief partners.
“At the same time, demand for food relief remains incredibly high. Putting a freeze on new food relief partners is not a decision we wanted to make, but with our current food supplies already being stretched thin, we simply cannot meet the growing demand.”
To help keep fresh food flowing across the region, Bendigo Foodshare is now spending up to $1,000 each week purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables, a cost the charity says is not sustainable without additional community support.
Bendigo Foodshare will continue its partnership with local food manufacturer JL King & Co, which is helping source fresh produce at wholesale prices.
“We’re incredibly grateful to JL King & Co for continuing to work with us to make every donated dollar go further,” Ms Murphy said.
“Whether people can give $10, $100, or $1000, together those donations can make a real difference to the amount of fresh food we can get out to people who need it.”
Through its Fresh Food Appeal, Bendigo Foodshare is calling on the community to help raise enough funds to purchase 15,000kg of fresh fruit and vegetables, helping the charity continue providing nutritious food to people across central Victoria in the coming months.
Funds raised through Bendigo Foodshare’s Fresh Food Appeal will be used to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables for distribution through its network of food relief partners across central Victoria.
To donate visit bendigofoodshare.org.au/freshfoodappeal
Caption: L-R: Bendigo Foodshare Volunteer Fruit and Vegetable Shift Coordinator Shannon Kerrigan and CEO Michelle Murphy with food that has been rescued for food relief.
