21 years of helping the needy
After helping thousands of needy families since it was established, volunteers at Baw Baw Food Relief recently celebrated its 21st birthday. The organisation is supported by more than 100 unpaid volunteers whose roles include the steering committee...
After helping thousands of needy families since it was established, volunteers at Baw Baw Food Relief recently celebrated its 21st birthday.
The organisation is supported by more than 100 unpaid volunteers whose roles include the steering committee, administration team and managers. As well, there are delivery drivers collecting food seven days a week as well as store attendants and sorters.
Presenting a history of BBFR, co-ordinator Jan Davidson said the organisation had grown significantly from a "modest operation" beginning as Warragul Foodbank and operating from a shed at a Warragul church.
"In 2002, a handful of compassionate people from the Church on Tarwin had a vision to provide assistance to locals who might be struggling in the local community.
"Volunteers from the church would put together food parcels during the week, which could then be collected by recipients on a Saturday.
"During this first year we assisted around 10 families per week," she said.
By 2008, the group was supporting about 200 families a year and BBFR's current manager Anne Pascoe joined the team.
The group became a registered organisation in 2010 and was renamed Baw Baw Combined Churches Food Relief with six local churches providing basic financial support to cover costs for food and other overheads.
By 2012, the team of volunteers had grown to more than 40 people, who were noe feedining more than 500 needy families.
The original location became too small by 2013 and the organisation relocated to Pearce St, Warragul - the new home being provided by an anonymous benefactor with rent paid for two years.
BBFR now occupies four units with areas for administration offices, food, op shop and sorting centre.
Currently, BBFR receives about 4.4 tonnes of stock every week, some of which is distributed to local outreach programs supported by the organisation.
Jan said people accessing food relief did so for a number of reasons, largely because they were struggling to put food on the table but often because of unexpected life events.
