BENDIGO Foodshare was made a urgent Christmas plea for more donations as demand for help grows across the region.
Tuesday’s appeal from CEO Michelle Murphy came just days after foodbank co-ordinators in Bridgewater and Inglewood told the Loddon Herald their larders were low on essentials.
Ms Murphy said that Bridge-water was in the top 10 foodbanks served by Foodshare.
“There are 95 foodbanks we are providing goods to ... a couple of years ago that number was 70,” she said.
“Bridgewater is in our top 10 partners for volume and that suggests that demand is high.”
Ms Murphy said Foodshare donations were down but the organisation would continue to best give equity to all services in the region.
She said Bendigo Foodshare’s food supplies were critically low and the shelves at their new warehouse were looking disconcertingly empty.
“Food donations are down right across the state — we’re receiving a lot less from state-wide agencies such as Foodbank which means there is a flow on affect in the volume of food available to our 95 food relief partners across central Victoria,” Ms Murphy said.
 “Unfortunately, of late we haven’t always been able to meet our order requests, and our local partners are telling us they’d ideally love more variety and quantity.
 “As a stopgap we have had to resort to purchasing fresh vegetables and meat to have these basic necessities available. 
 “In the lead up to Christmas to help families get through the holidays we need to purchase more pantry staples, such as pasta and rice so we can offer food to those in need these holidays.
 “We’re asking that those people in our community who are in a position to do so, to donate to our Christmas Giving Appeal and give the gift of food this Christmas.
“Donations will help Bendigo Foodshare purchase food and provide food relief to 13,000 people each week, through programs such as soup kitchens, community lunches, school breakfast and lunch programs for children coming to school hungry, and the provision of food hampers to people in need.
 “The rising cost of living is affecting a growing number of people across all walks of life — from young families to seniors, workers, and even uni students. Food insecurity is no longer just an issue for the unemployed; its impacting everyday people trying to make ends meet,” she said.
Ms Murphy said that this holiday season, together generosity could bring hope and some extra joy to people in central Victoria doing it tough.