A new project in Devonport is delivering thousands of ready-to-eat cooked meals to Tasmanians doing it tough each week.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has provided $700,000 to the innovative Loaves & Fishes Tasmania Project, including $250,000 for start-up costs, and $150,000 per annum for state-wide distribution of meals for three years.
Loaves and Fishes will provide up to 12,000 nutritious meals distributed to Tasmanians in need each week.
Loaves & Fishes is a partnership between Devonport Chaplaincy, Secondbite, Action Against Homelessness and the Tasmanian Government, through our new Youth Supported Accommodation Facility – Eveline House.
Loaves & Fishes lease the commercial kitchen at Eveline House to produce the meals for not for profit organisations, charities, school breakfast programs and shelters across the NW Coast, as well as a range of gourmet foods, jams and sauces which are sold online and through retail outlets to provide vital funds for emergency food relief and training.
In addition to this, the project has joined with training organisations, including TasTAFE and Industry Link to provide young people residing at Eveline House, and youth at risk in the wider community, with practical skills in hospitality, including food preparation, cooking, business, marketing, and logistics.
Eveline House opened in Devonport in May 2018 as part of our $200 million Affordable Housing Strategy. It has 25 self-contained units for young people aged 16-24 at risk of homelessness, including five units for young people living with disability.
We acknowledge and thank all those involved in this innovative project, and wish all of its participants well in their future careers.
