On any given week, Uniting’s food relief pantry in Prahran welcomes over 50 people seeking support.
“The people who access food relief at Uniting come from all different walks of life,” says Ella, Uniting Emergency Relief Support Worker. “Big families, single parents, pensioners, people who are sleeping rough or don’t have a fixed address.
“We really see a wide variety of people. It makes you realise that anyone can be struggling at the moment. No matter how they appear.”
This demand for food relief is particularly high during the colder months.
“During winter it gets very cold here in Victoria,” explains Ella. “Bills go up… people need to keep the heating on, the gas on. And sometimes they can’t afford food that month because those bills are so high. That’s a big struggle during winter.”
Unlike pre-packaged food hampers, Uniting’s food pantries ensure choice and dignity for people who come in. Families and individuals can select food that meets their dietary requirements, cultural needs, and personal preferences.
“Having a choice of food gives people the autonomy they need,” shares Ella. “In the pantry they get to walk out knowing that everything in that bag, for them or their family, they’ll be able to eat.”
For many people, Uniting’s food pantries provide more than just meals.
“By giving people food relief, we also give them a bit of hope,” says Ella. “If they’re sleeping rough or they’re a single parent trying to keep their head afloat, it gives them that hope because they can use that money for something else. They don’t need to pick between eating that night and keeping the lights on.”
Ella encourages anyone who is able to support Uniting’s Food For Families program, which helps keep our food pantries across Victoria and Tasmania stocked.
“Anything you can put towards emergency relief is valuable. That bag of pasta or laundry powder… That’s going directly to someone who needs it and can’t afford it. It’s going to really impact someone and make their struggles a little less hard.”
Help people in need today. Your food donations help keep our pantries stocked, give people the dignity of choosing their own food and household goods, and ease the everyday pressures for families and individuals in need. Help keep families fed.
