More Meals For Victorian Families
No one should go hungry, which is why the Allan Labor Government is delivering more support for food relief across Victoria.
Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence today visited Alex Makes Meals in Preston to announce 133 organisations will share in $9 million through the Community Food Relief Program, doubling the program’s funding this year to deliver fresh and nutritious food right across Victoria.
The program boosts supplies for large-scale food relief organisations and supports volunteers on the frontline. Seven Coordination Grants will help major providers expand services, while 126 Local Grants will strengthen grassroots support.
Alex Makes Meals will use their Coordination Grant to establish 20 new food relief programs across north-east Melbourne – delivering more than 70,000 fresh meals through partner agencies. FareShare will use funding to deliver Meals for the Mob in partnership with First Nations communities.
Drummond Street Services will receive a Local Grant to deliver cooking workshops and a community meals program for young people living in social housing in Collingwood.
In Latrobe, Morwell Neighbourhood House will use their Local Grant to run a community-led pilot to transform local produce into preserved foods and shared meals – boosting food literacy and helping households stretch their budgets further.
The Victorian Budget 2025/26 delivers $18 million to expand food relief right across Victoria – bringing our total investment in food security to more than $74 million.
A full list of Local Grants recipients is available at vic.gov.au/community-food-relief-program-local-grants.
A full list of Coordination Grant recipients is available at vic.gov.au/community-food-relief-program-coordination-grants.
Quote attributable to Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence
“No one should go hungry – these grants will help organisations big and small deliver fresh, nutritious food to families and support the volunteers who make it happen every day.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northcote Kat Theophanous
“We know the rising cost of living is continuing to impact families. That’s why we're boosting Alex Makes Meals and other food relief organisations to expand and get more food to those in need - exactly the kind of community-focused initiatives that makes a real difference.”
Quote attributable to Member for Preston Nathan Lambert
“Our local food relief organisations and neighbourhood houses in Preston and Reservoir do amazing work supporting the community, and we’re supporting them through additional food relief funding."
