The Give Where You Live Foundation’s Feed Geelong Appeal is calling on the community to help make sure nobody goes hungry.
Latest research from the Foundation reveals that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is significantly increasing the number of people seeking food relief throughout the Geelong community.
Give Where You Live Foundation, Acting CEO, Kristi Clapinski, stressed the importance of the Foundation’s Feed Geelong Appeal in addressing the current demand for food relief.
“The Give Where You Live Foundation’s Feed Geelong Appeal raises vital funds to help address food insecurity across the G21 region. The rising cost of living has created unprecedented demand for food relief, and now more than ever we need the full support of the community to help make sure nobody in our community goes hungry.”
The Foundation’s Community Choice Program supports people in the Geelong community facing crisis by providing essentials like food, prescription medications and material aid. This year, there’s been an overwhelming 46% increase in the number of people seeking support through this Community Choice program, due to cost-of-living pressures, compared to the same time last year. The Give Where You Live Foundation’s community partner organisations are facing similar surges in demand.
“We know many of our community partners are also seeing significant increases in the number of people seeking support due to the rising cost of living. Uniting Vic Tas recently reported a 58% increase in the number of new clients at their Norlane emergency food relief site, compared to last year. Many of these first-time clients, who have never needed emergency food relief before, are individuals and single mothers with children,” Kristi Clapinski said.
The Foundation’s Food for Thought research report released in late 2023, identified the key drivers of food insecurity include cost of living pressures, low income, unemployment, reliance on government benefits and families dependent on single income.
The Foundation is thankful to its 2024 Feed Appeal Partners for their support, including Times News Group, Goop Digital, The Gordon, GSC Finance, Rex Gorell Volkswagen, Australian Tyre Traders, Associated Cold Tread Tyres and Bay 93.9 and K Rock 95.5 for helping fight hunger in our community.
To make a donation or get involved visit https://www.feedgeelong.com.au/