Recently Victorian Disability, Ageing and Carers Minister Anthony Carbines announced 13 organisations, including MHA Care would share in $1.67 million from the latest funding round of the Food Relief Financial Reserve.
The Food Relief Financial Reserve was established in September 2021 to provide extra support to community food relief providers, who are delivering more food to vulnerable Victorians in response to the challenges of the pandemic.
This funding has been distributed to key food relief and distribution services to ensure Victorians continue to receive support while workforce, supply and logistics are challenged during the outbreak and recovery from the COVID-19 omicron variant.
MHA Care CEO Michael Hogan said MHA Care received $16,700 from the Victorian Government which will go towards FoodShare.
“The allocation of this funding to MHA Care is seen as recognition of the work our Moira FoodShare program is doing to provide food relief to individuals and families that are experiencing hardship as we deal with the impacts that COVID-19 omicron variant has had on the small regional communities across the Moira Shire and the people who live in them,” Mr Hogan said.
More than 2.5 million meals have already been delivered statewide and 46 full-time equivalent food relief jobs supported through the $4.33 million released from the reserve to date.
“We were able to access the once off funding through a streamlined application process. It was great to see the application process made easier as it allowed us to prepare and submit the application for the funding in a short time,” Mr Hogan said.
“The funding will be used to purchase and distribute more protein-based foods to individuals and families residing within the Moira Shire.
“We currently service four major townships including nineteen additional agencies, and the funding from the Food Relief Financial Reserve will significantly increase our ability to provide more individuals and families with high protein foods.
“More importantly we will be able to value add to our prepared food hampers with fresh sausages, eggs, and fresh milk that will be purchased locally and distributed across the Moira Shire using our two transport vans.
“The funding will also provide some financial relief to the logistical costs associated with storing and distributing the food and increase our capacity to source more basic food staples in addition to the meat, eggs and dairy items mentioned above.”
MHA Foodshare Co-Ordinator Alan Petrie said the funding was greatly appreciated as it provides even more people in need with fresh food as well as staple items.
“On average we have been assisting about 400 recipients a week,” Mr Petrie said.
“Around 3000 people have benefitted from this funding which is greatly welcomed and appreciated.”
Mr Petrie also added that more people have reached out to Foodshare since the beginning of the pandemic.
“The numbers of those requiring the Foodshare service have grown significantly which is sad to see but we are pleased to be able to assist,” Mr Petrie said.
“Four years ago we were moving around 4000kgs a month. Now we are up around 16,000kgs.
“In saying that, our profile has also amplified so more people are aware of the service that is provided.
“Now our challenge is to meet that demand.
“What can’t be underestimated however is the work of our volunteers. If we didn’t have them, the Foodshare simply would not run.”
Further organisations who received funding through this round include: OzHarvest, FareShare, Foodbank Victoria, SecondBite, Latrobe City Council, Ballarat Community Health, Geelong Food Relief Centre, Bendigo FoodShare, Mildura FoodShare, Warrnambool and District FoodShare, Shepparton FoodShare and Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare.
Through the Financial Reserve and other programs, the government has invested more than $39 million to expand community food relief across Victoria since February 2020.
This includes $5 million in grants to 93 community food relief organisations for additional storage and equipment to deliver more food relief to Victorians in need across the state.
The government also established a Food Relief Taskforce to provide system leadership and advice on strengthening and enhancing the community food relief system in Victoria.
For more information, visit providers.dffh.vic.gov.au/community-food-relief.
In other exciting news MHA Care have also partnered with Yarrawonga Mulwala Community and Learning Centre to become the Yarrawonga Distributor of the Moira Shire Food Share Program.
With a number of spaces within the neighbourhood house rarely used, planning and renovations are currently underway to ensure the space is equipped to relocate this essential service to the centre.
