More than one million meals have been prepared at Australia's largest charity kitchen to support Victorians doing it tough - thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.
Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence today visited FareShare's expanded kitchen in Abbotsford, which reopened a year ago following a $2.2 million upgrade funded by the Labor Government.
Each day, up to 5,000 fresh, nutritious meals are cooked and distributed to more than 400 charities helping people facing hardship and the rising cost of living.
The upgraded kitchen has also allowed FareShare to expand its Meals for the Mob program - hosting community cooking sessions that bring together First Nations communities to share culture and food.
FareShare's work is made possible by its 600-strong volunteer team, alongside staff and trained chefs who help chop, peel and pack thousands of meals each week.
Over the past year, the kitchen has welcomed more than 100 school groups and 200 corporate volunteer teams to roll up their sleeves and help prepare food for people in need.
FareShare and food rescue organisation SecondBite joined forces in July 2024, combining their efforts to deliver more food to more people.
Through the Labor Government's $4.5 million Community Food Relief Program, SecondBite received a $250,000 grant for a new 10-pallet truck - boosting their monthly food deliveries by more than 50 per cent.
The Labor Government has invested more than $56 million since 2020 to strengthen food relief across Victoria, including $6 million in the Victorian Budget 2024/25.
As stated by Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence
"FareShare is helping Victorian families get through tough times - whether they're escaping family violence, sleeping rough, caring for loved ones or simply trying to make ends meet."
"This kitchen runs on the dedication of more than 600 volunteers who turn up every week to prep, cook and pack thousands of meals - their efforts are making a real difference in people's lives."
As stated by SecondBite | FareShare Chief Executive Officer Daniel Moorfield
"We're incredibly thankful to the Victorian Government for supporting both SecondBite and FareShare to scale up food relief efforts."
"With the new 10-pallet truck, SecondBite is reaching more people in regional Victoria than ever before, delivering over 138,000 kilos of food since February. At the same time, FareShare's upgraded kitchen - made possible by a $2.2 million grant - is producing an extra 300,000 meals each year."
