The Allan Labor Government is making sure more Victorians doing it tough can get the real help they need - with more support for the delivery of free meals across the state.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence today visited Shepparton Foodshare - one of six regional foodshares receiving support through the Victorian Budget 2024/25 to help make sure no Victorian goes hungry.
The Labor Government is providing $6 million in this year's Budget to the Regional Food Security Alliance and the state's six regional foodshares, located in Shepparton, Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Geelong, Mildura and Warrnambool, to help more regional Victorians access food relief closer to home.
Thanks to nearly $3 million from the Labor Government, Shepparton Foodshare recently moved into a new purpose-built warehouse in Mooroopna - the organisation's first permanent home in its 13-year history.
The new warehouse on Doonan Street has increased the organisation's capacity to store, prepare and distribute food, while providing a safe and modern working environment for staff and more than 100 volunteers.
Shepparton Foodshare sources food from supermarkets, manufacturers, growers and other food rescue agencies - distributing around 390,000 kilograms of food every year, or nearly 10 million meals since 2012, to more than 100 emergency relief agencies, schools and local organisations.
This year's Budget includes $18 million to expand food relief across Victoria, including $9 million for a second round of the Community Food Relief Program - helping local organisations boost capacity and reach more people.
Foodbank Victoria will receive a $500,000 funding boost to deliver more fresh and chilled food to regional communities - and $3 million to support its GROW program that rescues surplus produce from farms and diverts it to food relief programs.
Since 2020, the Labor Government has invested more than $74 million in food relief to give Victorians access to the essentials when they need it most.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"No family should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from - that's why we're backing the local organisations making a difference every day on the ground."
"And by doubling support for food relief programs, we're making sure more Victorians don't have to face the impossible choice between putting food on the table and paying the bills."
As stated by Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence
"We're proud of our investment in Shepparton Foodshare's new warehouse to ensure they can continue this vital work. It's part of our support in backing stronger and more resilient communities right across regional Victoria."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"Shepparton Foodshare is there for the community when it matters most - providing nourishing meals to people doing it tough and offering a lifeline for communities across the Goulburn Valley."
