More than 30,000 Victorian children are forced to turn to charity to have enough food to eat, according to a Yarraville-based food charity.
The Foodbank Hunger Report 2014, released last week, reveals 32,300 children are among the 108,700 people relying on Foodbank each month.
A shortfall in food and resources means charities assisted by Foodbank are forced to turn away a further 8600 people, including 2700 children, as demand for food relief rises.
“Working poor” low-income families are the largest group seeking help, followed by single-parent families and the unemployed.
The Foodbank report found access to meals contributes to improvements in emotional well being, sense of self-worth, social relationships, academic performance and overall standard of living.
Foodbank Australia chief executive Jason Hincks said research highlighted the overwhelming community benefits that even a kilogram of food can deliver.
“No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, yet a shocking number of Aussie kids are in this position every year,” he said.
Foodbank provides almost 60 per cent of food used by Australian welfare agencies across the country. Last year Foodbank delivered the equivalent of 26,301 meals each day in Victoria.
