COMMUNITY OUR CHARITY PARTNERS

FROM MOBILE SOUP VANS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSES TO COMMUNITY HALLS IN REGIONAL TOWNS, OUR LARGE NETWORK OF CHARITY PARTNERS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE FOR FOODBANK VICTORIA THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DESPITE THE IMPACT OF LOCKDOWNS AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF OUR PARTNERS AS DEMAND SURGED, DISTRIBUTING A RECORD 7.2 MILLION KILOS OF FOOD AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS.

In many respects, the pandemic hit our charity partners harder this year than last. As we also experienced first-hand at Foodbank Victoria, volunteer numbers for our charity partners were significantly reduced at times by COVID-19 isolation requirements. Charities reported that volunteers were devoting more time to paid work to make ends meet, making it difficult to resume normal operations months after lockdowns ended.

Sharp cost of living rises in the second half of the year combined with the end of JobKeeper payments in March took their toll too and demands for food relief rose by 23% as highlighted in the 2022 Foodbank Hunger Report. Some charities reported a doubling of demand, and a broader demographic seeking food relief on a regular basis.

People with jobs and mortgages were forced to access services, many for the first time, as inflation dramatically affected their ability to pay bills and afford essential food items.

Add supply chain disruptions and weatherrelated shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables into the mix, and the efforts of our tireless charity partners to help us put meals on tables were nothing short of awe-inspiring.

WITH THE HELP OF MORE THAN 476 CHARITY PARTNERS, WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THE EQUIVALENT OF 12.9 MILLION MEALS TO VULNERABLE VICTORIANS THIS YEAR.