Funds for food relief

Baw Baw Combined Churches has welcomed a donation for its food relief program from the Warragul Croquet Club.

The club donated $405 to the cause at its Christmas break up function after collecting donations.

Anne Pascoe of Baw Baw Combined Churches welcomed the donation, saying there is an increasing demand on the food relief service, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

“We had 25 families in today and more than 70 in the past week,” she said.

“Last year we had 630 families using the service with their eight visits, this year we’ve had 670 families.

“We’ve had to almost double our food parcels.”

Ms Pascoe estimated food relief expenditure at between $2000 and $4000 each months.

Each family is entitled to eight visits, where they receive a trolley full of groceries, while a supermarket chain also donate fresh fruit, vegetables and bread each day to help those in need.

People who need more than eight visits can apply for more, but there are conditions attached to go through a strict budgeting process.

Ms Pascoe said she had been overwhelmed by local support for the charity, with several local businesses making donations or helping to prepare meals.

She said a woman had recently donated $1000 worth of meat after a slow day at the market.

“She said I’ll be able to bless more people with that,” Ms Pascoe said.

“The Op Shop helps paying the bills and the rent and we’ve been successful in obtaining a number of grants.”

Ms Pascoe said the croquet’s club donation would particularly assist during the period between December 21 and January 17, 2017 where access to food from Foodbank Victoria is not available.