By Tanya Steele
Special ‘Pop-up’ food events are helping people across Eastern Melbourne, boosting regular food relief efforts, diverting food waste and connecting people this school holidays.
Food relief remains as important as ever and two agencies across Yarra Ranges and Knox have committed to help with the ongoing need to help people get dinner on the table every week.
Secretary of Outer East Foodshare Marilyn Lambert said their organisation still have to pick up food donations from the supermarkets over periods like school holidays and the pop ups are a great way to divert the food to where it’s needed.
“If we didn’t the food would just be wasted,” she said.
Outer East Foodshare in Knox has collaborated with two food agencies, helping provide food to a Salvation Army pop up in Ferntree Gully last week and will also deliver to Shop 16 Food Relief in Mooroolbark on Wednesday 23 April.
Mooroolbark Volunteer Jenny from Shop 16 Food Relief said their location is usually a weekly pop-up market, but this week they will receive a boost of extra food.
“This week, we have partnered up with our friends from Outer East Foodshare – it will be a mega market with lots of extra food,” she said.
“We set up in The Terrace outside the old IGA – and are open to the public on Wednesdays at 12pm.”
“We help families in need with a bag or two of food, we have fruit, vegetables, bread, sweets, pantry items and more.”
Shop 16 runs on donated food and the weekly market is operated by volunteers and Jenny said they work under the banner of ‘Shop 16 Community Connect.’
“This shop is our local community space with a food pantry that is open daily, DVD library, book library, coffee mornings, and it’s always a great place to get a cuppa and a listening ear,” said Jenny.
“When our pop-up market is on, we have a cuppa and cake available for anyone coming to the market.“
As some food agencies shut down over school holidays, reliant on volunteers the Outer East Foodshare put a call out across to agencies in Knox and the Yarra Ranges.
“We give them the full days load of food we pick up, which is normally around 300kg,” said Ms Lambert.
“A mix of fruit, veg, bread and meat will be available, delivered straight to the Shop 16 for it’s Wednesday market,” she said.
“The usual deal is you bring a shopping bag or two along and fill it up.”
Shop 16 Food relief is located on The Terrace at 66-74 Brice Ave, Mooroolbark and is open 12-1pm Wednesdays.
With a gold coin donation and BYO grocery bags, residents can pick up some food, with parking around the rear.
Jenny said the group is always grateful for any assistance, from donations to sponsors.
“We are community, helping community,” she said.
