By Tanya Steele
Food relief has continued throughout January all throughout the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges as ‘pop-up’ food relief days try to ease the pressure on vulnerable communities.
The hot weather did not deter the volunteers from the Foothills community volunteer crew on Friday 21 January as they hosted a free pop-up food relief stall in in Upwey.
The stall ran in Upwey Baptist Church and gave the community a chance to drop in and fill a few bags of produce.
Outer East Foodshare Secretary Marilyn Lambert said that Outer East Foodshare was thrilled to have supported 16 pop-up fresh food markets across Yarra Ranges and Knox this summer.
“It helped us, as we still collected donated food seven days a week, and we wanted to help those doing it tough,” she said.
“Markets from Healesville and Yarra Junction through to Boronia and Ferntree Gully have shared out over 6 tonnes of delicious food.”
“We hope they’ve given people a chance to enjoy treats from mangoes to cooked lasagna.”
Ms Lambert told Star Mail in November that the planned pop-ups would be providing several food access points across the Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah as traditional bigger agencies would not be open.
With kids home for the holidays, Ms Lambert said that lots of fresh plums, cherries and blueberries were snapped up quickly too.
“We thank the local food relief agencies that put together the market teams, and very importantly our OEF Drivers who have worked every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day,” she said.
Food relief providers continue to encourage people to come forward, use the services, get financial help and connect over community meal services.
