FORMER Albury mayor Alice Glachan has voiced her opposition to council providing a one-off $10,000 donation to cash-strapped emergency meals provider, FoodShare.
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The volunteer-based Albury-Wodonga Regional FoodShare has issued an urgent SOS to local councils for financial support during a restructure brought upon by an increased demand for its services.
Wodonga Council played its part with a $10,000 contribution and Albury followed suit this week despite opposition from Cr Glachan and Cr Graham Docksey.
"The report says the provision of emergency food is not the responsibility of council," Cr Glachan said.
"I would hate to appear to be the grinch, but I tend to agree with that.
"Local government in many respects is at the end of the food chain, excuse the pun, and the responsibility of this organisation is not that of councils."
Cr Docksey had reservation's about FoodShare's operational structure and felt a one-off donation could create a dangerous precedent.
"This could be the key to opening the floodgate," he said.
Albury Council also agreed to provide membership donations through Glenecho and Mirambeena community centres valued at $1560.
FoodShare collects unused frozen, chilled, tinned, fresh and packaged foods and supplies it to more than 100 outlets which help people in need.
An estimated 1.3 million meals to needy people are distributed.
The financial support and further administrative support to ensure FoodShare's survival was passed 7-2 with Cr Darren Cameron and Cr David Thurley among those to back the support.
"What desperate people need is help today," Cr Cameron said.
"In an ideal world it wouldn't be necessary for councils to do this sort of thing.
The council previously financially supported a food bank before cutting funding to the parent body in 2011.
"It was a black day in Albury's history when the last council decided to withdraw that support," he said.
Cr Thurley said the support was more than justified.
"We give money to a whole range of organisations including chamber of commerce, theatre groups and sporting clubs," he said.
"It seems to me to be a very small contribution for a service which is heavily used and essential in this community."
