Leader’s Feed Melbourne Appeal 2016 will help 40 suburban charities across Melbourne



Leader’s Feed Melbourne Appeal 2016 will help 40 suburban charities across Melbourne

Rebecca David, Leader

FOOD charities helping struggling Victorians will share in more than $400,000 thanks to your donations to the Feed Melbourne Appealthis year.​

Leader’s biggest annual charity campaign this year raised $406,706 thanks to the generosity and support of our readers.

Since 2009, the appeal has raised more than $3.2 million to help people going hungry.

Two thirds of the money raised this year will be distributed among 40 suburban charities as grants of up to $15,000, with Abbotsford food rescue agency FareShare to receive the remaining third.

Father Bob Foundation community development manager Mem River said the charity had been “rapt” to receive a $14,100 Feed Melbourne Appeal grant.

He said they would use the money to build a walk-in freezer to replace their old, cluttered chest freezers.

“This freezer will make a huge difference. It will have shelving so it will be a lot easier to store more of the ready-made FareShare meals we receive,” Mr River said.

“We’ll be more efficient and hopefully be able to help more people.”

Last year the foundation distributed more than 7000 hampers for families in housing commission flats and dished out more than 24,000 meals from its food van.

Other grant recipients included CareWorks SunRanges, Darebin Information Volunteers & Resource Service, Prahran Mission, The Salt Foundation and the Twentieth Man Fund.

FareShare chief executive Marcus Godinho said the appeal was a real “game-changer” for the charity.

“This year it will enable us to cook more than 200,000 free, nutritious meals for people in crisis right across Melbourne,” Mr Godinho said.

“Unfortunately food poverty is a serious problem in Melbourne. The Feed Melbourne Appeal makes a vital difference and means many more people experiencing hunger and disadvantage will receive support when they need it most.”

The Father Bob Foundation received $14,100 this year with which they will build cool room with more storage for food, than their old chest freezers. Pictured is community development manager Mem River. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Feed Melbourne Appeal is led by Leader Community News and FareShare.

This year Sargents Pies Charitable Foundation once again donated $50,000 to the appeal, while Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation matched all donations.

 

For more information visit feedmelbourne.org.au