Foodbank Victoria takes on hunger with help from South Sea Roller Derby
The lovely ladies at South Sea Roller Derby are hosting their next bout, 'Hunger Dames' on Saturday 11th May with part of the proceeds raised to be donated to
Foodbank Victoria.
The bout, taking place at Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough, will see the Cutthroat Charmers take on the Doll Rogers in what's sure to be a night of fun for all
ages.
South Sea Roller Derby are also holding a canned tuna drive on the night too, collecting some much needed protein for Foodbank Victoria from fans and skaters alike.
So who's going to come watch The Cutthroat Charmers take on the Dolly Rogers with us? Tickets are $10 adults and $5 for children under 12 (kids under 5 are free) and you
can grab yours today at the South Sea Roller Derby website or for more
information on the Hunger Dames bout head to their Facebook Event Page.
We'll be seeing you there! (And don't forget your can of tuna!)
Foodbank Victoria's Material Aid Program gets a boost from IC Frith Insurance Brokers
One of Australia’s largest insurance brokers and warranty service providers, IC Frith & Associates, have generously donated $5000
towards Foodbank Victoria’s Material Aid Program.
In addition to providing food to over 500 Victorian community agencies, Foodbank Victoria also runs a Material Aid Program that supports individuals requiring emergency relief.
The Material Aid Program, which is currently running unfunded, provides community welfare agencies with blankets, mattresses and bedding for clients requiring emergency accommodation. However,
without a constant funding, our supplies are rationed.
Late last year IC Frith & Associates expressed an interest in supporting Foodbank Victoria and the programs we run. IC Frith and Associates were particularly drawn
to our material Aid Program for its ability to physically warm and accommodate for an individual’s needs. Their generous donation will enable Foodbank Victoria to provide basic bedding (mattress,
sheets and blankets) to approximately forty people.
Look.Stop.Swap: Foodbank Victoria & Vanishing Elephant for the Sustainable Living Festival
At this year’s Sustainable Living Festival, Foodbank Victoria is partnering with Australian clothing designer
Vanishing Elephant to take part in Look.Stop.Swap.
Presented by the City of Melbourne and curated by Three Thousand, Look.Stop.Swap encourages the sharing of ideas on how to live and work more sustainably in our great city of Melbourne.
Any time during the festival (9 - 24 February), you can take fives tins of canned food to be donated to us, Foodbank Victoria, and in exchange, receive one pair of
Vanishing Elephant socks! The canned donations will then become part of an in-store installation – and when the festival wraps up, make there way to us!
So stop by the Vanishing Elephant Store at QV with your cans of non-perishable food and you can walk out with a new
pair of snazzy Vanishing Elephant socks – helping ou Foodbank Victoria whilst doing so.
Article: Sarah Alexander
Keeping it sustainable:
Foodbank Victoria's Wodonga Street Harvest Program
Foodbank Victoria’s Wodonga Street Harvest program was awarded a Special Commendation in the prestigious Premier’s Sustainability Awards held at the start of October this year.
The Sustainability Awards, managed by Sustainability Victoria, recognise sustainable initiatives by individuals and organisations across Victoria, and acknowledge leadership, innovation and
achievement in the business, government, community, tertiary education and built environment fields.
The Wodonga Street Harvest Program was recognised by the Premier’s Sustainability Awards for its innovation in food rescue and dealing with food insecurity in regional Victoria.
Catherine Byrne, who is responsible for the pilot and development of the program in Wodonga attended the evening with long time volunteer of the Street Harvest program, Michelle Dowell and
Foodbank Victoria’s CEO, Ric Benjamin.
“This program is an innovative way to think about rescuing food for those in need and at the same time engage young people in learning about food security and sustainability practices,” said Ms
Byrne.
“We’re really happy to be considered, and especially to have been awarded a Commendation. The Street Harvest Program has really developed into a sustainable model, with enough funding and support;
it has the potential to spread across the state, even nationally. And for this to be recognised by Sustainability Victoria, really drives home the environmental, social and communal benefits of the
program”.
Article: Sarah Alexander
Pam Adams - Foodbank Victoria Volunteer Extraordinaire
(image: couriermail.com.au)
Pam Adams is a giver. She has dedicated her life to helping others and volunteering at Albury Woodonga FoodShare.
It is her enthusiasm for FoodShare that has helped build it up and her innovative thinking that has gained support for the organisation. She organises, coordinates and distributes the fresh food,
usually being the first to arrive and last to leave. She has even been known to come in on weekends and tidy up.
An extremely valued member of every organisation she volunteers for, Pam’s commitment is unmatched. Volunteering not only at Albury Woodonga FoodShare, Pam contributes time to Uniting Care and
Telecross, a program run by the Red Cross. She is quick to hand out compliments to the other volunteers but Pam is not so quick to accept one herself.
Finally getting the recognition she deserves, Pam has been awarded Victorian Local Hero of the Year and has been short listed for the national Local Hero of the Year award by the Australia Day
Council. A legend in the community, Foodbank Victoria adds its voice to the countless families and children in North East Victoria that have been touched by who Pam Adams.
Article by Martika Bisogno
Perpetual Trustees and Foodbank Victoria: encouraging food distribution growth
Foodbank Victoria has increased its annual distribution of food from 2,000,000 to almost 7,000,000 meals over the past five years. Such a growth in distribution has, however, created a greater
stress on Foodbank's current food collection and distribution systems.
In late 2011, The Percy Baxter Chariatble Trust managed by Perpetual Trustees, granted Foodbank Victoria $180,000 for the purchase of a 14 pallet refrigerated truck. This new addition will allow
for more fresh and refrigerated food to be distributed more frequently, whilst alleviating much of the stress placed on the small food transportation fleet currently operaring out of the Yarraville
warehouse.
The truck is used five days a week, making trips to regional Victoria to deliver groceries, fresh and frozen products to community Emergency Relief agencies. The truck is also being facilitated to
pick up donated product, particularly fresh produce from the Melbourne Market (wholesale fruit and vegetable market) and has become a key asset in the development and implementation of our Mobile
FoodShares Program that is run in conjunction with inner city and metropolitan agencies who support occupants of Melbourne's public housing estates.
Perpetual Trustees vision, fittingly, will provide a perpetual benefit to Victorians facing hardship.
KickStart Breakfast Club Program: Beyond Nutritional Gain
Foodbank Victoria is expanding and improving the KickStart Breakfast Club Program to include 34 primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and youth centres across
regional and metropolitan Victoria. In 2012 alone, Foodbank Victoria’s KickStart Breakfast Club Program (KSBC) has already provided schools over 2,116kg food & 902 litres of milk since the start
of the school year. We’ve also been able to welcome three new schools to the Program; Drouin Secondary College, Belvedere Park Primary School and Lalor Secondary College.
Foodbank Victoria sees the KSBC Program as a great platform to launch small health promotion initiatives and has continued in its efforts of providing Health Promotion
Activities every term. Last term, each school received a box of sun screen which complemented the schools' involvement in sun smart programs. In term two, Foodbank Victoria will provide all KSBC
schools with toothbrushes and toothpaste along with information for children on the importance of dental health.
Foodbank Victoria's KSBC Coordinator, is currently working on a Nutrition Toolkit to be released later in 2012. The Toolkit will be distributed to schools taking part in
the Program and will include healthy eating, recipes, activities and nutrition information. Looking forward, Foodbank Victoria hopes to expand the KSBC program to include 100 regional and
metropolitan Victorian schools.
For more information on the KickStart Breakfast Club Program please contact our KSBC Coordinator Ngaire at ngairel@foodbankvictoria.org.au.
Foodbank Victoria and Melbourne Food & Wine Festival present: Food for Thought
with Adam Liaw
Foodbank
Victoria and The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival are proud to present MasterChef winner Adam Liaw in a one night only culinary event to be held at Foodbank Victoria's Yarraville warehouse.
'Food
for Thought with Adam Liaw'
invites you to uncover the issues of food insecurity across Victoria and witness the magic of Adam Liaw as he creates dishes from Foodbank Victoria's warehouse stock. The event is apart of the
Feasting in Footscray contingent
of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival and
will run Wednesday 14th March 2012 - $25 for adults and $15.00 concession. Tickets avaliable from http://www.trybooking.com/ZPL.
Leadership Victoria | Igniting Leadership: Focus On Food
Leadership Victoria conduct some of Austrailia's finest leadership development programs. They have teamed up with Foodbank Victoria to present a 5 day leadership program in March 2012. The program
is designed to develop new leaders, enhance reputations, forge new networks within food industries and help instigate change. Click here for more
infomation on the Leadership Victoria event. If you are interested in participating in the program, please download an Igniting Leadership: Focus on Food program schedule and application form.
Foodbank Victoria take its concern for food security to an international level.
Food security within our community is a main concern of Foodbank Victoria. With the recent humanitarian climate in the horn of Africa, we are reminded that food security is a global issue. It has
been reported that currently in East Africa, there are over 11 million people (the equivalent of half of Australia's population) in dire need of food assistance as a result of widespread drought. The
United Nations are very concerned that if we do not act now, this severe famine will become a catastrophe.
In light of this desperate situation, Foodbank Victoria ask that you consider the relief efforts of the United Nations' World Food Program. By supporting this program, you are continuing the work
of Foodbank Victoria by aiding the fight against hunger on a global scale.
For more information on the work of World Food Programme or if you wish to donate, please head to www.wfp.org.
VicRelief Foodbank has changed its name to Foodbank Victoria.
Foodbank Victoria affirms our position as Victoria’s principal organisation for sourcing and distributing donated food to community organisations. With over 80 years history and now helping
over 500 charities and schools we distributed more than 3.1 million kgs of food and household products in 2010.
Foodbank Victoria will continue to expand its range of services to meet the changing demands of those facing crisis (flood, bushfire etc) and hardship. Thank you
for being a part of the VicRelief Foodbank family and we hope you continue with us as Foodbank Victoria.
"Each year, at some stage, 300,000 Victorians are unable to afford or access food.
Many of them turn to welfare, religious, community and other organisations for support"
In the last week of April, VicRelief Foodbank, in collaboration with FareShare and SecondBite, released the ‘Community Food Programs in Victoria’ research report. The report is the result of a 110
Community Food Programs (CFPs) survey, which was conducted during the second half of last year. The survey looked at what food is being provided, what food is required and the infrastructure that is
needed to keep up with the constantly growing demand for relief.
The research indicates that the supply of all donated staple items is not keeping up with the demand for these products. Milk, fruit & vegetables and meat have to be purchased by CFP’s to
ensure adequate relief is provided. Although there is over 20,000kgs currently donated to these 110 CFP's, there is still a shortfall over 26,000kgs of food. If we were to apply this to the 550+
agencies and organisations accessing relief from VicRelief Foodbank, the shortfall would be even greater.
In addition, there is also a pressing need for greater access to food preparation, storage and transport facilities. It was found that 56% of the CFP’s interviewed do not have access to dedicated
food transport vehicles and must rely on volunteer drivers using their own vehicles for food collection and distribution.
A copy of the report “Community Food Programs in Victoria – a report on the food needed and the infrastructure required” is available for download (PDF format) at the bottom of this page.
Want to help? Here's how you can.
VicRelief Foodbank has already provided more than 24,000 kilograms of food and material aid to aid relief efforts throughout flood ravaged Victoria.
We have also been out on the ground in the worst affected areas working to increase the quantity of food and the amount of deliveries available to flood affected areas.
Deliveries have included mineral water, UHT milk, bread, margarine, fresh fruit, vegemite and cheese. Much of this food was airlifted into Victoria’s flood isolated communities.
Whilst most areas have now moved into the recovery phase, it is clear to us that there will be a number of farming communities that will continue to suffer long-after the flood water subsides.
Much farming land is in ruins and this of course has an adverse flow on effect on local economies.
At this stage, the extent and severity of the damage is still being assessed.
VicRelief Foodbank have a dedicated Rural Community Support Team so will always continue to have an on the ground presence to not only help with emergency relief, but to provide food and material
aid and to help coordinate local community groups, volunteers and welfare agencies so they are able to manage the influx of people who will need their support.
In addition to Victoria’s flood crisis, we have also continued to provide emergency relief to flood victims in Queensland, which to date has totalled more than 65,000 kilograms of food and
material aid.
If the public do wish to help, the best thing they can do is donate money, which will
enable us to assist in immediate and ongoing support for people who have been adversely affected by the floods.
Top Market donor acknowledged at annual VicFresh Awards
VicRelief Foodbank recently presented an award at the Melbourne Market Authority’s annual VicFresh Awards.
The VicRelief Foodbank Donor of the Year 2010 award was presented to Coolibah Herbs for the abundance and consistent quality of their fresh produce donations. Their donated produce has included
potatoes, herbs, lettuce and mixed salads.
Our sincerest gratitude goes to all the market traders who continue to donate to our organisation. Overall they provided 497,457 kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables over this past year. Their
donations are critical to VicRelief Foodbank as fresh produce is constantly in high demand as many people who are struggling simply cannot afford the cost.
STOP PRESS! VicRelief Foodbank experiences 33% surge in demand
November 2010 has seen VicRelief Foodbank distribute 33 per cent more food and aid than year’s previous. And since July 2010,
the amount of food and aid distributed has increased by 25 per cent.
 It is evident that welfare agencies, schools and community organisations are
really struggling to meet the basic needs of those that need help; and unfortunately, there is a surge of people needing assistance.
Anglicare have also seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of people needing help this year. This is a disturbing trend, fuelled by a rise in the ‘the working poor’, an alarming new demographic
of people, who despite having paid jobs, still struggle with the cost of living.
VicRelief Foodbank is already forced to ration key staple products such as rice and pasta; as we need to ensure as many people can have access to these sorts of products as possible. We will also
be working hard to build a ready-supply of other key nutritious foods such as cereal and fruit and vegetables. With the continued support of the community, our valued donors and the Government, we
hope to continue to provide food and aid for the estimated 400,000 Victorians
who will experience food insecurity in 2011.
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