More than 3500 people.
That’s how many people Moira FoodShare assists monthly in the local area, according to organisation co-ordinator James Rouel.
In contrast, only a couple of years ago, the number of people assisted monthly was 800.
Moira FoodShare’s mission is to provide emergency and ongoing assistance by distributing free fresh and non-perishable food items to struggling residents.
In the 2023-24 financial year to date, Moira FoodShare has supported over 30,000 residents and distributed over 140,000kg of food.
The organisation’s reach covers both Moira Shire and Berrigan Shire, and Mr Rouel said Moira FoodShare was struggling under the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis as more people were reaching out for help.
“It used to be an older demographic, but now it is every demographic,” he said.
“The cost-of-living crisis is affecting people from all walks of life.”
Traditionally, Moira FoodShare’s handouts were sourced from local bakeries, supermarkets, restaurants and growers.
To enhance variety and nutritional value, the organisation also uses a mixture of free and paid goods from Foodbank Melbourne.
“With an increase in demand throughout the state, we can no longer rely on produce from Melbourne,” Mr Rouel said.
The Moira FoodShare co-ordinator is keen to stress that food is still coming from Melbourne, but more is needed due to the increasing numbers of people seeking assistance statewide.
In response, Mr Rouel is calling on residents to donate anything that is unsaleable.
“We can’t take anything past the use-by date, but we are happy to take anything past the best-before dates,” he said.
Mr Rouel emphasised that the food donated by locals would assist locals.
“We aren’t sending the food elsewhere,” he said.
Food can be dropped off directly at the Moira FoodShare warehouse in Cobram at 116 Karook St from 10am to noon, Monday to Friday.
For more information or to help out, contact James Rouel on 0419 809 171 or email him at jrouel@mhacare.org.au