General News
30 November, 2024
Local help larders are low on essentials
FOODBANK volunteers are struggling to stock up on pantry essentials as demand grows for assistance in Loddon communities. Glen Mangan, co-ordinator of the Bridgewater foodbank for the past two years, said the service was “barely easing the pain...
FOODBANK volunteers are struggling to stock up on pantry essentials as demand grows for assistance in Loddon communities.
Glen Mangan, co-ordinator of the Bridgewater foodbank for the past two years, said the service was “barely easing the pain for a fortnight among up to 35 families we help”.
“Bendigo Foodshare is struggling to provide the essentials now that flood recovery funding has finished,” Mr Mangan said,.
“Foodshare covers a pretty large area and they just don’t have the budget to buy what’s needed.
“They are getting what they can out to us in Bridgewater but we’re not getting the essentials.”
Mr Mangan said funding for Foodshare meant its supplies “struggled to be even a Band-aid for the demand we have”.
Concerns about access to essential food were echoed by the Inglewood foodbank co-ordinator Faye Orange.
“People are fighting to be first in the door each fortnight to have first pick of new supplies,” she said,
“There’s an increasing demand for food and we’re not getting the essentials like milk, rice, flour, soups, spaghetti like we were.
“Last year it would be slabs or boxes. Now it might be six or eight jars or packets.
“Without the help of locals and their donations, we would be in a difficult position.
“We do feel a little left out at the moment. Bendigo is getting the food but in the country there’s not the same supply.”
Faye said while Inglewood still received a fortnightly delivery from Bendigo Foodshare, local volunteers were making weekly trips to Bendigo to collect fruit, vegetables and other supplies from market farmers and supermarkets.
“There always seems to be plenty of pasta sauce coming from Foodshare but perhaps not as much pasta,” she said.
Mr Magan said Foodshare was doing its best with a limited budget. “But the budget’s simply not enough to meet demand across such a large region,” he said.
Foodshare has been contacted for comment on the shortage of supplies for foodbanks in Loddon communities.