Geelong “Sustainable Emergency Food Relief Workshop” Update

Geelong “Sustainable Emergency Food Relief Workshop”

City Hall - 15th November, 2011

> Summary of responses to Key Issues raised

The Geelong FoodShare, in partnership with Foodbank Victoria, will create a specialist food rescue and distribution site that becomes a substantial resource that will increase the amount of food distributed from FBV as well as locally sourced donations.  This will have a direct and lasting benefit for existing emergency relief and community based food support programs in the Greater Geelong region.

1. Benefits for Geelong

·       More food

FBV would be able to ship larger amounts of food to the Geelong FoodShare depot and help facilitate more local collection of donated and rescued food. This model enables more fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and frozen meals to be supplied to the ER agencies, community food support programs and schools in the area. There is substantial scope for targeted expansion in the Geelong region.  As a benchmark, the Wodonga FoodShare collected from local sources 63,000kgs in 2010 and 87,000kgs in 2011.

·       Healthier food

The Geelong FoodShare improves access to better nutritional foods to those most vulnerable to food insecurity. The Geelong FoodShare depot will utilize large capacity commercial fridge and freezers to that the storage of more complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, fresh fruit, meat, fish and dairy products.  These are vital components that enable meals to be made from the breads, pasta and cereals also available.

Additionally, with the support of FBV, the Geelong FoodShare will look to increase allergy-free related foods, so that the most vulnerable families of the community can also access egg, wheat, lactose and nut free products.

·       Less duplication/cost efficiencies
A significant impediment for local agencies to expand the amount and variety of foods they provide is having appropriate and adequate storage (dry, fresh and frozen goods).  The Geelong FoodShare will provide a facility that takes responsibility for the sourcing, storing and distribution of food for existing programs. A central resource that allows agencies to access it on an ‘as needs’ basis will alleviate the need for individual agencies to invest in large fridge/freezer capacity, meet rising energy costs as a result, and manage unexpected large food donations.

·       Breaks down food barriers
The Geelong FoodShare will help break down the barriers of access to quality food availability as well as being able to respond to the changing demographics of the Greater Geelong region by ensuring culturally appropriate foods are also made available.

·       Working with other food relief providers
The FoodShare model is designed to incorporate collaboration with other food relief providers.  Based on a recent survey undertaken by FBV, SecondBite and Fareshare, the
combined collection and distribution of the 3 agencies food is still not eating the needs of agencies providing food programs.  Depending on the food item, the ‘gap’ between supply and demand is between 30-50%.

It is therefore common for collaboration and sharing to occur, because no single supplier will meet the total demand.  By way of example, in Dandenong the depot receives excess from SecondBite and Fareshare collections in the area, and similarly, if either of these agencies is short of product for their distributions, they are welcome to access stock from the depot.

·       Increased employment opportunities
The Geelong FoodShare has the capacity to develop training and employment pathways for clients of our partner agencies.  Working with local training providers, it would target the most needed skills in the Greater Geelong region, including warehouse/logistics, hospitality, ICT and horticulture.

·       Local supply chain supported
The Geelong FoodShare also provides a tangible opportunity to support local providers and enabling them to feel that they are making a direct contribution to their community, by:

o   Provides a focus for local food rescue (Woolworths, Aldi etc.)

o   Provides a focus for local donors (retail, wholesale and primary producers)

The Geelong FoodShare also empower individuals within the community to become
part of the solution of hunger, by:

o   Provide opportunities for other community collection programs, such as

§  Street Harvest

§  School and Community gardens

§  Farmer’s markets

·       Transport savings
Two significant elements need to be met for the long term viability of Emergency Relief food into the Greater Geelong region:

o   increasing demand (due to population increases and uncertain economic times)  
o   the freezing of funding arrangements from the State government for subsidised freight across Victoria.  This mean that local agencies will face reduced availability for subsidised freight from Melbourne. However, FBV have guaranteed that all food orders will be delivered FOC to the one new Geelong FoodShare depot in Geelong. By using the Geelong FoodShare as a bulk distribution centre, it is hoped that the changes to service delivery to individual agencies is minimized. Arrangements could then be made for discounted, refrigerated freight deliveries by the Geelong Food Relief Centre, or free self-pick up as often as required.

·       Improving Minimart value
The Geelong FoodShare model would look to rationalise product offerings between the Minimart and the bulk access products.  By ensuring items in the Minimart are targeted at items not available in the bulk access areas it will be possible for agencies to make sure that each client will access a greater range of products at no additional cost. 

·       More funding options
A new Geelong FoodShare depot will have access, if required, to other FoodShare funding submissions FBV is making to State government and other sources.  This could bring more resources from outside Geelong into the region.

·       Greater range of volunteers
The Geelong FoodShare model allows for a greater range of volunteers to be engaged as their activities can be independent of any one particular agency and/or the tasks on offer have a greater variety. 

·       Emergency readiness
The Geelong FoodShare, as an extension of FBV, will be ready to assist in supporting our community during emergencies (flood, bushfire, etc.), in conjunction with local and State Government emergency management plans and other service organisations.

·       Higher awareness
A significant benefit of the Geelong FoodShare is that it will become the aggregated voice of Emergency Relief in the Greater Geelong region.  Having a united voice as a rallying call for food collection and distribution in the region will change the communities perception of ‘charity competition’. This will attract more media coverage, sponsorship opportunities, volunteering opportunities, new food supply sources and Government support.

2. Geelong Foodshare Taskforce to be established

A taskforce needs to be established to instigate and manage an independent business plan that reviews the following and then creates Working Parties to tackle specific required actions. 

The review will cover:

·       How other regional FoodShare models operate, the options and opportunities;

·       The food supply chain in Geelong via Foodbank Victoria and local agencies;

·       The Geelong Food Relief Centre structure, including the Mini-Mart which supports local agencies

·       Engaging more ER agencies, local donors and community members

·       Funding for Start up CAPEX and sustainable OPEX models and opportunities

2.1  Possible Taskforce Working Parties could be:

·       Governance – finalising the Geelong FoodShare model

·       Logistics – covering securing a facility, determining the facility fit-out needs,
mapping delivery/access needs, OHS, etc

·       Start Up funding – covering local business, Gov’t and philanthropic engagement
for 2-3 year period

·       Long Term Funding – covering issues of creating a long term independent income
stream that builds to self-sustaining levels

·       Community Engagement – covering marketing and engagement with ER agencies
and community supporters, including local food donors

2.2 Current Position

Several people from a wide range of organisations have indicated their interest in being
part of the Taskforce.

Geelong Food Relief Centre is working to ensure the Taskforce will contain the right mix of experience to produce the best outcome for Geelong.

If you are interested in joining the Taskforce, please email the Chairman

Lillian van Laar
lillianvanlaar@gmail.com