Boosting food relief in kyneton

The Andrews Labor Government is strengthening food relief services across the state to ensure healthy food reaches Victorians in need.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, announced Kyneton Community House have received a $60,560 grant as part of the $5 million Community Food Relief Fund grant program.

Kyneton Community House will use the grant on their Food for Good Kyneton program, which aims to increase meal production and delivery capability at Kyneton Community House, with the specific intent of providing much needed food relief long-term to community members struggling to meet the needs of themselves and their families.

The grant will allow staff and volunteers in the program to increase capacity by as much as 100 per cent.

Kyneton Community House are one of 93 recipients of the Community Food Relief Fund grants, w hich will provide a massive 2 million meals and 180,000 food hampers to vunerable Victorians.

In addition to the grants, the Labor Government is investing $3.5 million to build regional food hubs to increase the capacity of food relief storage and distribution services in regional Victoria. The hubs will ensure food gets to where it’s needed by strengthening the link between suppliers and those experiencing food insecurity.

In partnership with Foodbank Victoria, the Government has selected Albury-Wodonga Regional Foodshare, Bendigo Foodshare, Geelong Relief Centre, Mildura Foodshare and Warrnambool and District Foodshare to provide the new hub services.

The food relief hubs build on $10 million already being invested by the Labor Government for new distribution centres in Ballarat and Morwell. Once complete in late 2022, the new centres will enable a coordinated food relief response across the state.

The Community Food Relief grants and regional food hubs are part of the more the $25 million in additional funding the Government has provided since February 2020 to expand food relief operations across Victoria. In addition, the Government provides Foodbank Victoria with over $3.6 million support each year – this vital funding provides 140,000 Victorians with food every month through more than 470 charity partners.

For more information on the Community Food Relief Fund and to see all recipients, visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/community-inclusion-and-food-relief-coronavirus-covid-19.

Quote attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP
”Kyneton Community House do incredible work for our community, and this grant means they can continue that vital support for those who may need a little extra support.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan
"Every Victorian deserves access to fresh and healthy food – which is why we’re boosting resources for community-based food relief services and ensuring all families can stay happy and healthy.

Quote attrbutable to Claire Rawlinson, Director Kyneton Community House

“Kyneton Community House could not be more grateful for the opportunity to make all this happen through the State Government Food Relief Grant awarded to us, it will really benefit vulnerable people in Kyneton well into the future."