Right now, Victorian families are doing it tough.  

The cost of food, fuel and bills are adding up, and families are facing tough decisions. 

That’s why the Carroll Labor Government’s investment in local food relief organisations is so important.  

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes has announced that organisations across the region will receive funding to provide vital food relief to the local community:

• Shepparton Foodshare Inc will receive $66,000 to develop a social supermarket model for Greater Shepparton.
• Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre Inc will receive $25,000 to support staffing to deliver food literacy workshops, coordinate food relief and strengthen partnership with local suppliers.
• Generations Church ACC Inc will receive $88,000 to upgrade their existing kitchen to a certified commercial kitchen, to support the delivery of their existing community meals program.
• Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc will receive $72,000 to hire dedicated staff to implement a voucher system pilot, targeting multicultural cohorts across Greater Shepparton.
• MACE Inc in Mansfield will receive $20,000 to purchase food and support staffing to deliver cooking classes.
• Healesville Interchurch Community Care Inc will receive $55,000 to enhance the existing Community Grocer Program.
• Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council Inc will receive $25,000 to upgrade their social supermarket to improve access for those facing accessibility barriers.
• Mildura Community House Inc will receive $14,000 to support repairs to the existing hot house to increase community garden production.
• Swan Hill Neighbourhood House Inc will receive $20,000 to upgrade essential commercial kitchen equipment to increase capacity.
• Waminda Community House will receive $75,000 to employ a project officer to lead the Benalla Community Food Collective (BCFC) working group, in addition to essential kitchen equipment and food purchasing.
• Longwood Football Netball Club Inc will receive $16,500 to provide fortnightly pop-up meals and essential food hampers to bushfire impacted households.
• Flowerdale Community House Inc will receive $44,000 to upgrade the kitchen facility to expand the lunch program; and increase the reach of existing food literacy programs to include men and young people.
• Girgarre & Community Group Inc will receive $19,000 to continue the delivery of food relief through hampers, meals, staffing and infrastructure upgrades.
• Towong Shire Council will receive $28,000 to purchase essential kitchen equipment to deliver ready-made meals and cooking classes.
• Chiltern Neighbourhood House will receive $64,000 to purchase a vehicle and support staffing to improve access to food relief services for vulnerable communities in Rutherglen and Wahgunyah.
• Bandiana Neighbourhood House Inc will receive $19,000 to implement a community garden and deliver cooking classes to increase food literacy.
• Albury Wodonga FoodShare Ltd will receive $73,000 to support the purchase of a refrigerator vehicle to ensure the safe and reliable collection of surplus fresh and frozen food from partner organisations.
• Loaves and Fishes Christians Caring will receive $12,500 to hire administrative staff to support volunteer coordination, logistics management and other essential operations.

It’s part of the Carroll Labor Government’s $8 Million investment in food relief across the state.  

Local food relief organisations and neighborhood houses are embedded within the community.  

They are often the first place people go when they need help.  

This makes them vital in ensuring food relief gets to those who need it.

That’s why we are backing them.  

Last time the Liberals were in government they cut fresh fruit Friday – a program that gave fresh fruit to school kids. 

History shows they will cut the services that help Victorians when times are tough.  

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes 

“These organisations do great work, delivering food to those doing it tough. I’m proud that our government is backing their important work.”