Max Westwood
Foodbank Victoria is under never before seen pressure as 65,000 people a day are now in need of its services.
Foodbank Victoria chief executive Dave McNamara said the surge in people needing help is impacting the Yarraville-based organisation’s ability to provide food relief.
“It comes down to the cost of living crisis to people that we’re helping and telling us that they’re struggling to pay their mortgage, their rent, their utility costs,” he said.
“We’re seeing some of our charity partners seeing up to 200 per cent increases in the last few months alone.
“At the same time, we’re finding it increasingly difficult to find food donations.”
Mr McNamara said Foodbank is struggling to continue to reach the demand it is under.
“I think the sad part of that, and I guess the worrying part of that for us, is that we rely on community donations to help fund that food purchasing,” he said.
“Donations of food are dropping significantly, we’re having to purchase more and more food over the last two years, we’ve spent $10 million on purchasing food for the community, which is a dramatic increase on pre COVID levels where we would spend up to $100,000.
“And we’re now on a regular basis and I’m talking, you know, on a weekly basis, have people ringing us saying ‘I’m really sorry I can’t donate to you anymore. I actually need your help’.”
Over the 20 years Mr McNamara has been in the food relief business, he has noticed a distinct change in the people needing help.
“When I started, it was predominantly, you could say, people on the street. And now I can hand on heart say that this is people in your street, he said.
Despite the increase in workload he is grateful to be a part of this industry and is blown away by the resolve the public show to help provide for families that are struggling each and every day.
“We have over 400 volunteers turning up regularly to help do the work. That’s inspiring.”
Details: www.foodbank.org.au/?state=vic
