A new partnership between Shepparton Foodshare and Saras.Care will see food, clothing, linen and toys donated to vulnerable people in our community.
The linen will go to various agencies that support our local young people, the food items will be distributed via our network of registered agencies and, those agencies that also support children and young families will be encouraged to order toys with their food boxes to ensure some joy and Christmas spirit flows onto these families.
Clothing distribution will take place in the new year as it is anticipated that as COVID case numbers reduce in Shepparton, Foodshare will be able to resume their usual model of agencies entering the warehouse to select food for the people they support, as opposed to ordering food boxes. It is at that time that the clothing will also be available to select from.
With Foodshare’s core focus on food relief, much of these items are not what the local food rescue service would normally warehouse and distribute however Saras.Care, who had planned to establish their own warehouse and distribution a few months back ran into problems therefore reached out to Foodshare for assistance until more permanent distribution channels are established.
Shepparton Foodshare Chair, Jeremy Rensford said, “After hearing of Saras.Care’s desire to help our community and the problems they had experienced we were keen to assist them to ensure our community received the material they need at this time.”
Saras.Care, based in Melbourne, delivers direct relief to people in need. The material aid that they rescue or have donated is provided via various community distribution centres.
Gautam Gupta of Sarascare said, “Although we are based in Melbourne we heard of the crisis situation in Shepparton via the media and took action to source and transport material aid however we ran into issues with accessing a suitable warehouse the repeated lockdowns effected rescues and distribution. This partnership with Shepparton Foodshare will ensure this aid is still received by the most vulnerable in your community.”
Saras.Care has already distributed over $1M worth of brand new clothes and shoes in Melbourne and now they plan to expand their services in Shepparton. They have already secured many pallets of hygiene products, clothes, accessories and other items. Shepparton Foodshare is kindly storing, sorting and distributing these goods.
Demand for food relief, and therefore the services that Shepparton Foodshare offers, has been at an all-time high in the Goulburn Valley due to the recent coronavirus outbreaks. With Foodshare relying on its own fundraising efforts and community support to keep their doors open, many have been making financials donations to help ensure this critical local service can continue.
During the recent coronavirus outbreak that saw one third of our town in isolation, this small, yet essential service that operates predominantly with volunteers, over a 10-day period processed 88,727 kilos of rescued and donated food and distributed a phenomenal 61,000 kilograms of food that was destinated for local people in isolation.
Shepparton Foodshare operates on food donations and rescues, with no possibility to charge for food, as the people receiving the food simply cannot pay for it. It supplies 100 emergency relief agencies, churches, community meals programs and schools with free food to distribute to the people they support. The busy warehouse generally receives and distributes more than 300,000 kilograms of food annually, or the equivalent of 600,000 meals, and prevents edible food entering landfill.
Since 2012 Shepparton Foodshare has distributed 3.3 million kilograms of food to the most vulnerable in our community, thanks to support of businesses and extreme generosity from the local community.
Representatives from Shepparton Foodshare and Saras.Care will be available for a photo and an interview opportunity on Thursday, December 9 from 11.30am to 12 noon. For more information or to book a time to visit, please email kate@sheppartonfoodshare.org.au.