Food Relief Program Expands in Response to Community Need

A food relief program operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been expanded in response to increasing demand for support in the wider Ballarat community in Victoria.

Run by volunteers, Soul+Food aims to be a center of influence by taking care of the physical, social, and spiritual needs of members of the community while also creating new opportunities for local and regional suppliers to contribute to the program. With the help of a AU$67,000 Victorian Government food relief grant, a new warehouse was constructed at Wendouree.

The warehouse will hold fresh stock, frozen food, and other pantry staples. Visitors will be able to shop for what they need for a small $5 donation. Since the program began in 2017, the number of people seeking support has doubled. Many of the people who use the service are experiencing unemployment, homelessness, or domestic violence. With the rising cost of food and petrol, the center also welcomes pensioners who are struggling to keep up with the cost of living.

The church initiative started with the distribution of 25 weekly grocery packs and has now expanded to 40–60 packs. Eight volunteers run the center.

Soul+Food also plans to use the space to run social programs and hold courses on cooking and nutrition.

The launch of the new warehouse was attended by community and church representatives, including Juliana Addison, state member for Wendouree; Kallista Kaval, representing Anthony Carbines, Victorian Police minister; Amy Johnson, Ballarat deputy mayor; Pastor Graeme Christian, Victorian Conference president; and Pastor Justin Bone.