FareShare vice president Sandy Dudakov (Picture: TONY GOUGH N26MP802)

THIRTY-ONE charities are set to share in more than $200,000 in grants thanks to Feed Melbourne.
The campaign raised $375,949 to help local charities rescue and redistribute edible food that would otherwise go into landfill.
It is led by Leader Community Newspapers, food charity FareShare and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.
Feed Melbourne this year focused on the changing face of hunger, with working families, students and pensioners turning to relief agencies for meals.
During the seven- week campaign, Melburnians made individual donations, took part in Share Lunch Fight Hunger Day and indulged in $5 gourmet soups provided by top restaurants such as Rockpool, MoVida and Grossi Florentino.
FareShare vice president Sandy Dudakov said a lot of recipients this year were first-time grant applicants.
A third of Feed Melbourne donations will go to FareShare to help achieve their goal of providing one million meals a year.
Charities across Melbourne will receive grants ranging from $2500 to $10,000, i ncluding The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, in West Melbourne, to update its foodbank facilities.

Freedom Care co-ordinator Karin Kostas stacks shelves with fresh vegies.

A WALLAN- based emergency relief organisation has received a $5000 Feed Melbourne grant to help combat the growing food crisis across the region.
Freedom Care supplies free food packages to about 1200 people each month, and the number is growing.
Volunteer Karin Kostas, a chaplain, offers budget advice to families battling to pay rent, medical bills, utilities and school fees.
A small shop on site offers staple food items, such as pasta and bread, at heavily discounted prices, to help f amilies stick to t heir budgets and also enjoy nutritious meals.
‘‘A lot of people do without meat and we’re just over the moon that we can provide fruit for t he kids’ school lunches,’’ Mrs Kostas said.
‘‘Our shop helps parents put food on the table and it helps their pennies go a little further.’’
Freedom Care helps Whittlesea, Mitchell , Murrindindi and Hume residents and never turns an eligible client away.
Thirty-one charities will share in more than $200,000 in grants thanks to Feed Melbourne.
The c ampaign raised $ 375,949 to help regional charities rescue and redistribute edible food.

Donvale’s Vantage Point Church program co-ordinator Julie O’Connell with the new van she uses for picking up food donations. Pictures: CARMELO BAZZANO N21DT304

VANTAGE Point Church has doubled the number of families it helps feed since purchasing a refrigerated delivery van with a $10,000 Feed Melbourne grant.

The Donvale-based organisation’s food bank provides food for up to 50 families – about 250 people – each week.

Program co-ordinator Julie O’Connell said receiving the van had made a huge difference to the number of clients the church could take on.

“It had been a bit of a juggle, with volunteers having to use their own cars to collect food,” Ms O’Connell said. “It’s opened up more places in our partnership program.”

Ms O’Connell said the refrigerated van had also allowed for the collection and distribution of healthier food, including fresh fruit and vegetables.

Feed Melbourne helped to alleviate some of the pressures on families, she said.

Vantage Point Church was among 31 charities to share in more than $200,000 in grants through Feed Melbourne.

The campaign has raised $375,949 to help charities rescue and redistribute food that would otherwise be discarded.

It is led by Leader Community Newspapers, food charity FareShare and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

By Natalie Filmer
Source: http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/new-food-van-all-part-of-the-plan-to-help-families/

Patricia Green says the money her society received was spent on food and food vouchers.

IT IS “ridiculous” to see people struggling for food in an area as rich as Monash, says Waverley Benevolent Society president Patricia Green.

She said the society helped more than 500 families a year, along with single men and women.

It is one of 31 charities across Melbourne to share in more than $200,000 in grants this year, thanks to Feed Melbourne.

The campaign has raised $375,949 to help local charities rescue and redistribute edible food that would otherwise go into landfill.

It is led by Leader Community Newspapers, food charity FareShare and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

Ms Green said people who came to the society were desperate for food and help.

“It’s ridiculous people should be hungry in an area as prosperous as this,” Ms Green said.

She said most of them were families with children, while about 20 per cent were single men, and 15 per cent were single women.

The society used the Feed Melbourne grant to buy food and provide food vouchers to needy people.

Charities across Melbourne will receive grants between $2500 and $10,000.

Feed Melbourne this year focused on the changing face of hunger, with working families, students and pensioners turning to relief agencies for meals.

By Angus Livingston

Source: http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/feeding-families/

A YARRA Ranges charity received a $10,000 Feed Melbourne grant to buy a new caravan to help them feed needy people.

Careforce Community Services was given the Leader funding for its work in delivering food in Lilydale every Thursday night.

The money will help it buy a caravan to replace an old double-decker bus used to transport and hold food and supplies.

CCS chief executive Glen Cox said the money was a “pleasant surprise”.

“It’s great to be recognised for our hard work. We have always had a great reputation for being at the coalface and this is fantastic news.”

He said the purpose-built caravan, to cost about $20,000, could be towed by a car, making it easier for more than 30 volunteers.

Source: http://lilydale-yarra-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/charity-in-the-van-in-lilydale/