By Matthew Sims
Yarraville charity organisation 300 Blankets was among the hundreds of community groups across Australia to receive a grant under the 2022 People of Post grants program.
The organisation received a $1000 grant for its Iceolation program, which has delivered hundreds of care packages to families and individuals facing financial hardships following the suspension of food programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
300 Blankets president Peter Royce said the team appreciated the grant, especially due to ongoing increases in the cost of living and fears around an impending economic slump over the next one to two years.
“We anticipate that there is going to be an increase [in service requests] due to the recession,” he said.
A collaboration with the Melbourne Ice Foundation, the Iceolation program has continued to provide perishable and non-perishable food to about 150 households across Melbourne suburbs out of Yarraville IGA.
Other local grant recipients included the Hobsons Bay unit of the Victoria State Emergency Service, which received $925 for emergency portable lighting to improve the volunteers’ capability to perform night operations, and the Footscray Hockey Club, which received $980 to provide Club with Heart training to empower leaders to create systems which encourage inclusivity within the club.
Australia Post head of community Nicky Tracey said grant recipients were from all corners of the country.
“These grants give us an opportunity to support what matters to our team members and to help them to help others in their local community,” she said.
“We are delighted that so many of our people around Australia were keen to make a difference and nominated an organisation close to their heart for a grant.”
Details: 300blankets.com/missions/iceolation-care-packages-program
