The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring families in need can continue putting a meal on the table with fresh food and meals delivered through community food relief programs.

Ballarat’s Food Access Network, coordinated by Ballarat Community Health includes organisations who provide the following programs:  Uniting Breezeway and Emergency Relief, Uniting Café Meals for Change, SecondBite at BCH, Salvation Army – Café 102 and Grocery Box, Grampians Food Alliance, Anglicare breakfast and Emergency Relief program, Harvest Ministry of Food, Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council and Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative Hamper programs.

This year the network has secured over $117,000 in Victorian Government funding with $14,000 announced today in the latest round of funding.

Meals for Change café meals program run by Uniting provides some of the Ballarat community’s most vulnerable young people with subsidised meals in eight local small businesses. This program received $7,400 in the first round of the program earlier this year and today a further $3,000 has been announced to deliver another 200 meals.

Meals for Change members pay $3 towards the cost of up to a $15 meal. Cafés are reimbursed the balance of the total bill up to $12 per meal.

In the latest round of funding announced today the Grampians Pyrenees Food Alliance also received $2,000 to purchase fresh food and 150 pre-packed meals from local business and $9,000 will purchase up to 4,000kg of pantry staple items for 3 local community groups Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative, Stawell Inter-Church Council Cottage and Avoca Food Pantry.

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

 “No-one in our region should be going hungry – and that’s’ why we have been delivering a record amount of funding to local programs that provide food staples, hampers, café vouchers or cook meals for those most at risk.” 

“Sitting down to a meal in a café is something we can take for granted and this program gives that opportunity to more people in Ballarat, so they can enjoy the pleasure of a healthy meal with friends.”

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Our local organisations do an incredible job of supporting people doing it tough. This funding will empower Ballarat’s Food Access Network to help more community members in need”

Quote attributable to Melissa Farrington Health Promotion Coordinator at Ballarat Community Health

“The goal of the Food Access Network is to advocate for better access to fresh and nutritious foods for community members who are ‘at risk’ or experiencing food insecurity.”

Quote attributable to Jen Pollard Meals for Change Uniting Ballarat

“The additional funding will enable Breezeway clients to take a friend or family member out to lunch across the January to February period which for many people is traditionally a very lonely and isolating time.”

“Importantly the pre-purchased gift vouchers generate additional income of $3,000 across the eight small hospitality businesses which have experienced significant viability issues as a result of the Covid pandemic.”