FOOD CRISIS CENTRE
Welcome to our Food Crisis and Referral Centre
Many people struggle with food insecurity, without reliable access to nutritious food. If you or anyone you know needs food, you’ve come to the right place.
Our Food Crisis and Referral Centre is the heart of Encompass Care VIC. We do our best to meet your dietary requirements, we give out non perishable items,
fresh fruit and vegetables, school snacks, chilled and frozen goods. We can also assist with toiletries, nappies, sanitary items and baby goods.Our process is easy, either call us here or pop in to one of our Food Rooms in Bundoora or Mernda, directions here.
You will meet our friendly staff who will assist you with food to take away and you’ll be taken through a quick intake process to establish any further point of need.
We make referrals regarding various supports, such as family violence, financial hardship, homelessness, depression and more.
Click here if you need help and need immediate access.Our team are available if you are in need of a listening ear or a friendly chat, our heart is that you have access to the essentials for healthy daily living.
So if you need assistance, it would be our privilege to assist you.
THE NEED: FOOD INSECURITY
Food insecurity refers to when a person is unable to obtain a sufficient amount of healthy food on a day to day basis.
In the course of a year, 1 in 7 people experience food insecurity in Australia (Foodbank Vic). This equates to 3.7 million people who are in need of assistance.
As a result people suffer from chronic hunger and poor nutrition, and are therefore less likely to have healthy and productive lives.OUR RESPONSE: FOOD CRISIS AND REFERRAL SERVICES
Encompass Care VIC provides direct relief of poverty. It is the food hub for over 50 organisations in Melbourne. Our sole focus is to help the disadvantaged get back on their feet during tough times. We provide food parcels containing non-perishables, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meals, dairy, meat and bread. We also offer a large range of school snacks for children.
We conduct intake interviews to ensure that all service users feel safe and have access to services which will help them navigate through their difficult situations.
OUR IMPACT
2,980 FOOD PARCELS TO FAMILIES
GIVEN OVER 24,804KG OF FOOD
FARM TO FAMILIES
We work closely with Foodbank Victoria in the Farms 2 Families Program allowing families to access fresh produce direct from the farms into their homes. In October 2016 & March 2017 we ran the Farm 2 Families market. On each occasion approximately 170 families attended, equating to over 550 individuals who were assisted with food on the day.
This program is subject to funding.