By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
THE positive work being done to end food insecurity in the Yarra Ranges has been celebrated at an event held by the Eastern Food Alliance (EFA).
The non-profit organisation was established last July and has become the second biggest distribution centre in the country.
It delivers food throughout the Yarra Ranges and other areas to charities and families in need.
It also acts as a hub for the national organisation Second Bite which rescues fresh food that is rejected by supermarkets and taken to EFA’s warehouse in Kilsyth where it is then distributed.
The Mail has introduced its readers to distribution points in Warburton, Millgrove, Yarra Junction and Healesville over the past few months, where the EFA is delivering about three tonnes of fresh food a week to charities and welfare agencies.
Hills residents in need can also get on board with the Friday food bank Hope in the Hills in Tecoma.
EFA director Mark Davis said the organisation also runs a training program to help disengaged youth, long-term unemployed and people with disabilities find jobs and secure employment.
“Everything we do is supported through the funding we receive in training people for these warehousing qualifications,” he said.
“Donations also support activities that enable us to train more people and get them jobs.”
He said they work with special needs schools such as Mount Evelyn SDS and job seekers from across the area.
“We’re about to graduate our 46th adult learner and about 40 to 50 per cent have been getting jobs,” he said.
“More than 100 high school students are enrolled in traineeships with us and another 15 will soon graduate a practical vocational outcome.”
At the beginning of the year Upper Yarra Community Enterprises sponsored a second van for EFA, with a 3.5 tonne capacity which will allow them to service 45 per cent more agencies this year.
“We’re delivering 300 loaves of bread a week into Yarra Junction and 150 into Warburton alone,” he said.
The EFA held a barbecue at its Kilsyth warehouse on Saturday 13 April to fundraise for another delivery van, allow the community to tour the warehouse and showcase how its students work every day to help needy families in the community.
