Fresh produce for food relief

A project to grow fresh food for local community foodbanks and build workrelated skills is making an impact with the first deliveries of fresh produce made to the Baw Baw Combined Churches Food Relief in Warragul.

Community College Gippsland (CCG) is delivering the new Community Foodies project which is helping to skill people for work in rural careers and grow food for people in need.

CCG program leader Gillian Williamson said the group was growing a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs at CCG’s Warragul campus.

“The produce is ready for harvest and our foodies are now making weekly deliveries to the foodbank to help people in need,” she said.

“The fresh greens such as spinach, silver beet, lettuce and herbs are in particular demand.

“We also have tomatoes, celery, carrots, strawberries and more to come.”

Anne Pascoe of the Baw Baw Combined Churches Food Relief said fresh fruit and vegetables were a commodity that some people cannot afford.

“To receive this support from CCG’S Community Foodies who are growing food specifically to help others in need is much appreciated,” she said.

“It will enable us to help more families and individuals and give them fresh, healthy food.”

Mrs Williamson said contributions from individuals or organisations willing to donate seeds, plants or equipment to boost the Community Foodies project was most welcome.

A local hardware outlet has donated building materials, hand tools, bird netting, irrigation fittings, seedlings, and mulch which is a major boost to the project.

“The more fresh food we can grow the more we can deliver to support people in need,” Mrs Williamson said.

Mrs Williamson said the project was a creative approach to build real employment skills and contribute to the community.

The project is being run by Community College Gippsland with the support of Sureway Employment and Training and is open to people who are unemployed and seeking to build work skills and experience.