Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Monbulk community food relief

Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (19:09): (204) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Child Protection and Family Services and Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me on a visit to community service groups in my electorate to meet some of our local heroes and thank them for the essential services they offer in our community.

Food banks and community meals providers serve as a lifeline for individuals and families facing economic hardships or extreme loneliness or experiencing unforeseen crises. The Philanthropic Collective is one such provider, and it acts as a vital hub collecting and distributing donated food to those in need. They serve as a critical link between surplus food which would otherwise go to waste and those struggling to put meals on the table. Similarly, Foothills Community Care offers a welcoming space where individuals can access nutritious hot meals prepared with love and served by wonderful volunteers. They also receive a box of food for their family, which they can select or ‘shop for’ for free and with dignity. Their every endeavour, every initiative undertaken and every dedicated volunteer foster unity and compassion within our local community.

During the election campaign I made a commitment that if the Andrews Labor government was re-elected, we would provide grants to these extraordinary groups, and that is exactly what we have done in this budget. The Philanthropic Collective and Foothills Community Care perform a vital role to ensure that no-one is left behind. I am incredibly proud to see their funding secured. I wanted to place on record my deep appreciation for the work that they do. To Stephen, Andrew and your respective teams, I look forward to joining you with the minister for family services to hear about your programs and future initiatives. We appreciate all of the work which they do. Thank you.