UPDATE: The fruit of a $150,000 Asylum Seeker Resource Centre crowdfunding campaign has hit the road.
Exactly 12 months after reaching its fundraising target, the Food Justice Truck has made its first foray into Footscray.
The locally custom-built truck has set up shop at Footscray Primary School from 3pm-7pm each Friday, with plans to roll out to a weekly roster of locations.
Food Justice Truck manager Russell Shields said the truck sells fruit, vegetables, whole foods and other healthy items to the public at market rates, as well as offering a 75 per cent discount to asylum seekers.
“This was about improving food security for asylum seekers but also to build community connections,” he said.
“It’s a win-win – parents can pick their kids up and shop at the same time but it’s also a great cause.”
All fresh produce is purchased from Spade & Barrow, a wholesale business that buys the whole crop from Australian farmers, minimising waste.
Mr Shields said the project is a unique way of bringing people together to talk about issues such as Australia’s treatment of refugees and asylum seekers while ensuring access to good quality fresh food for those most in need.
“One if the aims is to improve communication around these issues,” he said.
“There are no barriers between teachers, students, parents and asylum seekers; food is a powerful tool for advocacy in a safe and inclusive space.”
More than 70 per cent of refugees in Australia report running out of food, which Mr Shields says has dire physical, mental and social consequences.
After finding its feet in Footscray, the food truck will roll out into other areas such as Sunshine and ultimately across Victoria, seeking to help 2000 asylum seekers a month access healthy and affordable food.
The operation relies upon a team of volunteers and ongoing support from the wider community making purchasing to help subsidise the food bought by asylum seekers.
For more information, go to www.asrc.org.au/foodjustice.
