16 April 2026
We visited Echuca Neighbourhood House — one of our valued food partners — to celebrate the launch of their Feeding Futures program and the official opening of their new cool room and freezer room.
As part of the event, Echuca Neighbourhood House Manager Sarah shared how securing a Chobani Australia: The Big Difference grant for a new fridge and freezer has been a game changer. The new infrastructure allows the team to safely store fresh and frozen food and significantly expand the range of nutritious options available to the community. Sarah described the upgrades as the “start of something bigger for the community”.
The visit was an opportunity to join their strong network of supporters, reflect on how much they’ve grown, and hear about where they’re headed next.
Since opening their food bank in 2020 in response to immediate community need, the Echuca Neighbourhood house food relief offering has grown into something much bigger: a local, people‑powered food system built on dignity, choice and connection.
Over the past two years, more local families and individuals have turned to Echuca Neighbourhood House for food support, with the team now assisting up to 70 households each week with food parcels in addition to the open‑access food pantry. The food parcels are coordinated through an order‑form system that puts people at the centre, allowing each food box to be carefully tailored to suit dietary requirements, pets, and the needs of children in the household.
During our visit, we also learnt more about their new community‑led cooking program, Feeding Futures. Guided by the principle of ‘local people feeding local people’, the program intentionally brings together food relief with education, skill‑building and social connection. Delivered by a dedicated team of volunteers (some of whom have supported the organisation for more than 20 years) Feeding Futures now welcomes more than 30 people each week for a shared meal. The Feeding Futures team also works closely with local health organisations, encouraging participation in meal preparation and creating welcoming pathways that help people feel comfortable accessing additional services and support when they need it.
In the 2024–25 financial year, Bendigo Foodshare distributed 7,530kg of food to Echuca Neighbourhood House to support their food bank and community meals.
A big congratulations and thank you to Sarah, Alex, and the incredible team of volunteers who support their community every day. We’re proud to partner with Echuca Neighbourhood House and look forward to continuing this important work together.
To find out more or access food relief from Echuca Neighbourhood House, visit their website https://www.enh.org.au/food-bank
