General News
25 May, 2023
Providing food to the community
AS many struggle with the rising cost of living, Camperdown Community House (CCH) is reminding residents the Camperdown Food Bank is available when needed.
AS many struggle with the rising cost of living, Camperdown Community House (CCH) is reminding residents the Camperdown Food Bank is available when needed.
Non-perishable food hampers and essential non-food items, such as nappies and personal hygiene products, are available to those in need.
CCH is a registered agency with Food Bank Victoria and Warrnambool Food Share and offers this service to the entire Corangamite Shire region.
CCH co-ordinator Emily Mercer said the organiSation partners with local community groups/organisations, service agencies, clubs, churches, and schools who are the access and distribution point for the community to this service.
“Food security is still a pervasive issue for our communities,” she said.
“This has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and rise in cost of living.
“Even prior to the global pandemic, Food Bank has reported, with the rising cost of living, demand for food relief continues to rise. It is a key focus in the current Municipal Health and Wellbeing plan.”
The Food Bank service is a program of CCH, is managed by the coordinator and operated by a highly dedicated volunteer team.
In 2022, CCH’s distribution of food hampers and non-food essential items increased 164.4 per cent since 2019, and 42.5 per cent since 2021.
The trend for the need for food relief appears to be steadily increasing year by year, with current demand for food relief doubling since 2020.
The Victorian Government has reported that one in four Victorian families relied on unhealthy food due to home budget pressures during COVID-19 lockdowns, according to VicHealth’s Food systems and food security COVID-19 working group.
Ms Mercer said CCH’s food relief service does not have any recurrent funding, and as such was reliant on securing annual grants and sponsorship, along with donations and community contributions to keep this service operational.
“We cover all operational costs, including service management, volunteer training, purchasing boxes for food hampers and all non-perishable food and non-food items such as pet food and personal hygiene products also available via this service,” she said.
“We are lucky to be partnered with Food Bank Victoria, where our funding goes a lot further than it would if we were relying on food items at supermarket shelf-prices.
“The need for food relief continues to rise, and in order for us to sustain this service to meet this growing need, we need your help.”
Details for donating can be obtained by ringing the CCH on 5593 1403.
All funding and donations secured for the service is spent purchasing non-perishable food items and essential non-food items, along with other essential products that sustain a healthy and functional service, such as pest-control and flat pack boxes for the food hampers.
One key supporter of the CCH is the South West Community Foundation, who has provided support for the Food Bank and other initiatives such as the community garden.
Ms Mercer said CCH currently has funding, due to end in June this year, supporting a holistic and community-based approach to addressing food security in the community by combining the Food Bank, community and sensory garden, and the swap and share program.
“The aim of this funded project has been to improve these services and programs to better meet the needs of our community while providing opportunities for community connection and strengthening by bringing people together to share, learn and grow,” she said.
“Our service provided over $80,000.00 equivalent value of food to Corangamite residents in 2022.
“Neighbourhood Houses Victoria have calculated that the community value we have provided to Corangamite via our food bank service in 2022 to be valued at $142,916.00,” she said.
Camperdown and District Food Bank is available through the following agencies/community organisations:
• Corangamite Shire, contact Belinda on 5593 7100;
• Camperdown Uniting Church 5593 2323;
• Camperdown Vinnies on 0437 726 654;
• Camperdown Mental Health Service, contact Leanne on 5593 6000; and
• Manifold Place Community Health contact Cheryl or Penny on 5557 0900.