A Geelong food hub will implement a new distribution model to manage and deliver food across western Victoria, thanks to funding.
Geelong Food Relief Centre was one of four organisations that received Coordination Grants through the state government’s $4.5 million Community Food Relief Program on October 24.
Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence said the new distribution model would allow the centre to expand its service to areas including Horsham, Colac and the Golden Plains Shire.
“We’re enabling collaboration between food relief providers right across Victoria, to reduce duplication, increase efficiency, pool resources, and get more food to people in need,” she said.
“By supporting these four organisations to better coordinate their efforts, we’re also supporting the hundreds of charity partners and the people who rely on their services for fresh and healthy food.”
Member for Lara Ella George said the grant would help the centre meet rising demands for food relief during the current cost of living pressures.
“The Geelong Food Relief Centre assists thousands of people across the Geelong region. This grant will ensure families have access to food relief when faced with difficult times,” she said.
“We know many families are doing it tough right now, and by backing our local food relief organisations, we can ensure that households in the Geelong region can access support.”
Other organisations funded through the program included OzHarvest, to establish a new warehouse and distribution centre, and SecondBite, to purchase of a 10-pallet truck.
Regional Food Security Alliance also received a grant to formalise a partnership with OzHarvest and SecondBite to help provide food aid to more communities.
