Earlier this month Michelle & Joe from Bendigo Foodshare visited several of their food partners in Central Victoria, to meet the amazing people behind the scenes and hear their stories.
At Romsey Neighbourhood House, they met with Michelle, who has been volunteering there for more than 10 years, and has grown volunteer support from 3 to 100 volunteers in that time. With the help of Geoff and Oke, Kangan Institute Community Services placement student, Michelle runs a food relief mini mart, a community shop, a community lunch, and an op shop. The food mart operates 3 days a week, and assists around 60 people a day, despite being run from a converted shipping container in the main street. Whilst this unusual location brings with it some unique challenges, Michelle and her team are dedicated to providing meals, resources, and support.
Through our partnership with Romsey Neighbourhood House, Bendigo Foodshare has distributed 8,284 meals to the local community during the 2023/24 year. Our commitment aligns perfectly with Michelle’s plans to expand her reach for a more prosperous and resilient Romsey community.