BY KARUNA BALASUBRAMANIAN

As lockdowns and restrictions persist across Victoria, its residents are stepping up to address a demand for food relief from the state’s vulnerable. 

The pandemic has seen an uptick in food insecurity, particularly in groups that had never experienced it before. 

Foodbank Victoria spokesperson and a former radio host Matt Tilley said food relief has been one of the main services people are seeking during lockdowns. 

“With each lockdown, our services have grown in terms of actual, specific demand from people who we feed directly,” Mr Tilley said.

“The recent lockdown has had a great emotional impact on people, especially among the casual workforce and international students,” he said.

Foodbank’s report found two in five charities have seen an increase in the number of international students seeking food relief. 

The charity group established a pop-up store in Melbourne’s CBD to meet this demand from overseas students who have been unable to work and are struggling financially during the state’s lockdowns.

Mr Tilley said Monash University is Foodbank's second-largest cohort of students at the international pop up store, with more than 600 students accessing it daily. 

The Hunger 2020 report by Foodbank revealed the need for food relief doubled since the pandemic began.

The report found more than 31 per cent of Australians experienced food insecurity in 2020.

For OzHarvest, a food rescue organisation, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced it to change its focus from food waste prevention to food aid.

The group’s Victoria state manager Bernardo Tobias said the pandemic forced them to purchase food for the first time. 

“It’s very concerning that there is always a need for food relief and no matter how much food we have managed to give, it is like a bottomless pit,” Mr Tobias said.

OzHarvest has distributed more than 25 tonnes of food a week to those in need.

“We have been working with businesses with food supplies and agencies in areas like regional Victoria to provide food relief,” Mr Tobias said.

“By having a local level collaboration, our approach was cost-effective and we made sure millions of meals were delivered to communities.”

Mr Tobias said the silver lining of this crisis was seeing how the community got together and made sure no one was left behind.

Along with these organisations, individuals have also taken it upon themselves to assist those struggling with hunger during the pandemic.

Zoe Alexiades, a 24-year-old City of Port Phillip resident, has been providing home cooked meals for vulnerable members of her community. 

For Ms Alexiades, the idea of providing food started as a dinner conversation with her partner.

“We were discussing how many people have been affected during the pandemic and that’s when we came up with the idea to drop off meals,” Ms Alexiades said.

“While I am not sure if I will be able to do this after the lockdowns, I am happy to be able to bring the community together.”

Foodbank’s pop-up store is open for any struggling international students on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (excluding public holidays) from 10am to 2pm.