GUEST SPEAKER - ALLAN BASSETT

Allan Basset provided a very informative presentation on Warrnambool & District Food Share which forms part of a network of FoodShares across the state that have been created, facilitated and supported by Foodbank Victoria. They are managed by a volunteer board of directors who employ a part-time coordinator to run the Food Share and work with partner agencies that provide emergency releif to vulnerable people across south west victoria.

The organisation works in partnership with over 50 different organisations incuding local welfare agencies, emergency providers, health organisations, local schools and churches.

Food is distributed throughout Warrnambool, Allansford, Timboon, Terang, Mortlake, Hamilton, Penshurst, Dunkeld, Merino, Coleraine and Casterton and as far away as Balmoral.

Allan advised that approximately 1600 people in Warrnambool (4.9% of the population) do not have access to enough food to meet their daily nutritional requirements.

Every week day volunteers collect food from local supermarkets and other food shops to donate to organisations, individuals or families who require emergency food assistance.

For every $1,000 spent on running costs for a food collection truck, over $100,000 worth of food is collected for redistribution to those in need.

Every week volunteers collect food from local supermarkets and other food shops to donate to organisations, individuals or families who require emergency assistance.

Without community and corporare support the needs of clients will very quickly outstrip capacity.

Warrnambool & District Foodshare's immediate needs are: cash and in-kind support to cover the cost of food collection, food distribution, administrative work and utility and fuel expenses. Their short term needs are: a permanent base for Food Share and a refrigerated truck of their own for local collection and distribution of food. Longer term needs are: additional refrigerated delivery trucks to collect and deliver foods across the shires of Moyne, Glenelg and Southern Grampians shires; training facilities; access to a commercial kitchen to preserve foods and produce cooked meals for distribution to people in need of emergency food relief.