They’re the organisations that support the community, and now they’re calling on the community to support them.

Echuca Neighbourhood House’s mission is to help those in need, providing among other services, a place for people to find support and a warm healthy meal.

None of the charity’s work is possible without its suppliers, with several organisations across the state providing ENH with access to wholesale fresh food.

Food might grow on trees, but money certainly doesn’t, and with costs increasing across the board, charities are feeling the pinch.

“The issues we’re seeing at the moment is everyone seems to be running short on food to provide organisations like ours,” ENH manager Sarah Peake said.

“There’s a real gap purely because more people are coming forward to access emergency food relief because times are tough, and food relief partners are running out faster than they can restock.”

One of those providers is Bendigo Foodshare, with the charity’s chief executive, Michelle Murphy, putting out a public appeal for help after its fresh food supplies hit their lowest levels in years.

“Our shelves are bare; in particular we are struggling to provide enough fresh fruits and vegetables, which is the number one thing our food relief partners request,” Ms Murphy said.

“Over the past few months, we’ve seen less fresh produce coming through our warehouse as supermarkets continue to reduce their food waste and less produce becomes available through our statewide food relief partners.

“At the same time, demand for food relief remains incredibly high. Putting a freeze on new food relief partners is not a decision we wanted to make, but with our current food supplies already being stretched thin, we simply cannot meet the growing demand.”

Ms Peake said the ongoing supply of fresh food was particularly important, with ENH determined to ensure everyone could get a balanced meal or ingredients no matter their circumstances.

“It’s a basic right for people to have access to fresh healthy food,” she said.

“Money is tough for neighbourhood houses and our providers across the state, so we need to make sure every dollar we have is going to the right areas.

“Emergency food relief is our number one program, and we can only stretch the money we have as far as we can because of partners like Bendigo Foodshare.”

Ms Peake said neighbourhood houses were in a position where they were having to work out what programs were and weren’t financially feasible.

“It’s really bloody tough at the minute,” she said.

“People assume because we’re a food bank we’re fully funded by the government, but it’s just simply not the case.

“I know people don’t have a lot of cash to splash at the moment but everything, whether it be a donation of tinned food and sanitary items or a handful of coins into one of our charity boxes, makes a world of difference.”

To donate or find out more about ENH’s services, visit enh.org.au

To donate or find out more about Bendigo Foodshare’s work, visit bendigofoodshare.org.au/donate/freshfoodappeal

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