A new study from Bendigo Foodshare, the City of Greater Bendigo, and the Bendigo Student Association – YouFood Insights – is looking at the financial impact of COVID-19 and the ability to afford food and groceries on young Central Victorians.
Cafes for COVID is an innovative new program that will pay local businesses, using money raised by the community, to cook meals that will go out to people struggling to afford food via Bendigo Foodshare’s network of food relief agencies.
More than 200 people have put up their hand to volunteer with Bendigo Foodshare after the organisation launched an urgent recruitment drive to cope with increased demand for emergency food relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With great sadness, we must announce that following the Declaration of a State of Emergency in Victoria and federal announcement about non-essential mass gatherings, the following Bendigo Foodshare events are postponed until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
The core purpose of Bendigo Foodshare is to work together as a community to fight food poverty by sourcing food to be distributed to people in need via local organisations and schools.
Many of you will be familiar with our new manager, Bridget Bentley, from her previous role as our Grow Cook Share Project Coordinator and Food Ambassador. However, you may not know much about Bridget’s previous work and life outside Bendigo Foodshare.
A Bendigo mother shares her story of accessing food relief to help feed her young family after her partner was unexpectedly made redundant.
Central Victorians have rallied to support Bendigo Foodshare’s community food drive, donating 1,410 kilograms of non-perishable food, which roughly equates to 2,800 meals for local people in need.
Recent statistics show that more than 25,000 people in the Bendigo region are living close to or below the poverty line, putting them at serious risk of food insecurity and hunger.
In 2019, Bendigo Foodshare supported more than 12,400 people each week with donated, surplus and rescued food with the help of almost 100 local charities, community groups, early learning centres and schools.
Bendigo Foodshare is particularly grateful to the organisations below that collected food on its behalf in November and December,
This week, Bendigo Foodshare has started a mobile food pantry to meet increased demand for emergency food relief over the summer holiday period.
Bendigo Foodshare Chair, Cathie Steele said the Central Victorian food relief agency was keen to help families struggling to put food on the table over Christmas and the New Year by giving out free groceries at five sites across the city.
“Food poverty is a significant issue in the greater Bendigo region with more than 25,000 residents living below or close to the poverty line,” said Ms. Steele.
“As many as one in nine local families have difficulty putting hearty nutritious meals on the table each week.
Join us for a movie fundraising at Star Cinema on Thursday, 21 November 2019.
Doors open at 6pm for a light supper followed by a short presentation from Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services.
The movie starts at 7pm. This year’s film is Brittney Runs a Marathon. Watch the trailer.
Tickets cost $25pp and can be purchased from Star Cinema in advance or at the door. Call (03) 5446 2025 to book a couch.
Bendigo Foodshare has kicked-off a month-long effort to fight hunger in Central Victoria with a community food drive for non-perishable food items during November.
Recent statistics show that more than 25,000 people in the Bendigo region are living close to or below the poverty line, putting them at serious risk of food insecurity and hunger.
Bendigo Foodshare Chair, Cathie Steele, said the organisation helped feed 12,400 people each week with donated, surplus and rescued food.
“We’re seeing food distress affecting an increasing number of people who aren’t unable to afford healthy food despite working or as a result of temporary financial stress or unforeseen emergency,” said Ms Steele.