Families to benefit from additional Foodbank funding

• Coalition Government delivers additional funding to support Foodbank’s state-wide emergency food distribution
• New refrigerated trucks will allow Foodbank to deliver fresher, healthier food
• Funding will allow Foodbank to deliver an additional 6.5 million meals a year

Foodbank Victoria will be able to deliver an extra 6.5 million meals each year to Victorians in need through new funding provided by the Victorian Coalition Government.

Premier Denis Napthine today announced $480,000 for two new refrigerated food delivery trucks to assist Foodbank Victoria to deliver fresh, healthy food to those in need across the state,

The money will be used by Foodbank to purchase two additional, four-pallet, side-loading refrigerated trucks to deliver fresh food to community organisations, who will then distribute it to their clients.

“Foodbank currently has three trucks and the two new ones will increase the number to five, enabling Foodbank to increase its capacity, and distribute an additional 3.5 million kilograms of highly nutritious food in a safe and timely manner,” Dr Napthine said.

“This equates to the collection and distribution of a total of 20.5 million meals each year.

The Coalition Government’s investment will see the delivery of additional food in major regional centres experiencing the greatest demand for food relief.     

Member for Box Hill Robert Clark praised the work of Foodbank, Victoria’s largest food relief organisation, which currently supplies 400 welfare organisations across Victoria and delivers the equivalent of over 14 million meals each year.

“For more than 80 years Foodbank has been helping Victorians who, for whatever reason, cannot feed themselves and their families,” Mr Clark said.

“Foodbank’s support is vital, not only for lower-income Victorians, but also to families who have fallen on tough times and to areas hit by emergency situations.

“Foodbank delivers food assistance to more than 500,000 people each year and I am pleased the Coalition Government is able to offer additional support for this important work,” Mr Clark said.

Chief Executive Officer of Foodbank Victoria, David McNamara said the Government’s investment of two new trucks is a fantastic outcome for Foodbank Victoria. This will greatly extend our reach, allowing us to deliver more food to the most vulnerable people across the state.

“With over 80 years emergency food relief experience in Victoria, these much needed additions to our fleet will take our organisation to the next level.  

“Without question, it will ensure that we are better positioned to assist the growing number of Victorians that need our assistance, irrespective of their location,” Mr McNamara said.

“We are incredibly grateful for both the Government’s recognition of the issue of food insecurity in Victoria and their action taken in providing the resources to address it.”

“With this investment we can more effectively target communities where families are struggling to afford groceries and children are going to school hungry,” Mr McNamara said.