By Colin MacGillivray
Volunteers spent hours delivering food and essential items to families in need across Mitchell Shire’s south on Saturday last week as part of Love In Action Wallan’s regular hamper deliveries.
The community support group delivered about 40 hampers throughout the municipality’s south ward, with addresses in Kilmore, Wallan, Wallara Waters and Beveridge, seeking out families struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
Love In Action Wallan fundraising coordinator Michael Robertson said the families had been ‘very appreciative’ of the donations.
“People at the moment are having to choose whether to keep a roof over their head or feed their families,” he said.
“It’s a terrible time with the cost of living, with fuel and electricity bills going through the roof.
“That choice of putting food on the table or going without for a couple of days just to keep a roof over their head is a terrible decision to have to make … [so] it’s critical that we keep getting donations in from the public.
“We’re grateful for them because it means we can provide food for people so that they can keep a roof over their head, continue going to work and continue sending their kids to school with full bellies.”
Mr Robertson said the hampers contained non-perishable food such as cereals, pancake mix, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, biscuits, two-minute noodles, pasta and pasta sauces, and varieties of canned food.
He said people could support Love In Action Wallan by either donating food in a collection trolley at Wellington Square’s Vento Café or transferring money into the group’s bank account using BSB 633000 and account number 160529418. All donations greater than $2 are tax deductible.
Mr Robertson said Love In Action Wallan would continue supporting residents in need with the public’s support.
“We’ve got some emergency hampers left to give out, so people can might contact us and say they’ve only got food for the next couple of days or no food and supplies now,” he said.
“If people contact us in that case we’ll put an emergency hamper together as soon as possible.”
Mr Robertson said people could find out more about how to support Love In Action Wallan by searching for the community group on Facebook or emailing loveinactionwallan@gmail.com.
He said there were plenty of ways people could get involved, including attending a trivia night at Hidden Valley Resort on Saturday, August 6.
“We’re looking for people interested in volunteering to get in contact with us as well because we need a volunteer pool for major events,” he said.
“We’ve got a barbecue coming up, our Christmas event and there’s always our hampers, so it’s good to have as many people as possible helping the community.”
