Bendigo Foodshare secures new food relief vehicle thanks to flood funding
A new refrigerated truck is helping Bendigo Foodshare to provide long-term food security for central Victoria thanks to funding received following the 2022 floods.
The purchase of a new small truck was made possible through funding from Bendigo Bank’s Flood Recovery Grants Program, with the Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation providing $75,000 towards the new food relief vehicle. Bendigo Bank also helped to secure a further $25,000 from the Australian Lions Foundation with the City of Greater Bendigo also contributing $15,000 towards the purchase of the new truck.
Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy said the new truck has increased the charity’s ability to transport more food to areas in need, especially in times of disasters.
“The new truck is a much-needed addition to our operations. Not only does it increase our vehicle fleet to four, allowing us to provide more deliveries to our partners, but it enables us to transport more food.
“The truck can carry six pallets of food – which is double the capacity of our other three vans. This means we can be much more efficient each time our volunteers take the truck out, transporting up to 3.5 tonnes of food at a time.”
CEO of Community Enterprise Foundation David Impey said supporting the increase in demand for food security services is still an issue for local affected communities recovering from floods.
“Following the devastating floods of 2022 the funding for the Bendigo Foodshare truck is part of $320,000 distributed for flood relief and recovery from Bendigo Bank’s philanthropic arm the Community Enterprise Foundation,” Mr Impey said.
“The Bendigo Foodshare truck will make a difference to communities who are still recovering from the flooding, this grant is an example of how funders can come together to assist with community-led recovery, and we are proud to be partnering with the Australian Lions Foundation and the City of Greater Bendigo to make an ongoing impact in the flood affected communities.”
Chair of Australian Lions Foundation Tony Benbow OAM said “We play an integral support to communities affected by natural disasters and with the support of our Lions Clubs in the local area we are proud to be supporting Bendigo Foodshare with funding the refrigerated truck.
“It really is great to see philanthropy in action with this joint funding with Bendigo Bank and the City of Greater Bendigo. The Lions worldwide have a long history of working to improve food security and access to nutritious food and this project is another example of how the Australian Lions Foundation makes a difference.”
Deputy Mayor, Cr Matthew Evans said “The City of Greater Bendigo is pleased to have provided $15,000 towards this project, which enables Bendigo Foodshare to continue its important work safely in our community.
“The City runs a competitive community grants program that supports groups and individuals to undertake activities that have broad benefit and also contribute to achieving goals in our Council Plan.”
Ms Murphy added that Bendigo Foodshare provides food relief right across central Victoria, around an hour’s drive in each direction, and the truck has quickly been put to work. “It has already clocked up 13,000 kms and we expect it to travel more than 60,000 kms in its first year on the road,” she said.
“In the months after the 2022 floods, we saw a huge increase in demand for food from our partners, and thanks to state government funding we were able to distribute an extra 100,000kgs of food into flood affected areas. At the time, to meet this demand we borrowed an extra vehicle from our food donor SecondBite. Having this new truck means that we are better placed to respond to the next disaster that might hit our communities.”
