A roadside food cart is teaching residents the benefits of healthy food while lessening food waste.
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Birallee Neighbourhood House set up the Food is Free carton on Tuesday with coordinator Amanda Skrypczak saying the response had been phenomenal.
“We’ve had an absolutely massive response, it’s been absolutely crazy,” she said
“The concept behind it is turning harvest into hope.
“We want to lead by example and ensure healthy food is accessible for all.”
Mrs Skrypczak said that anyone could donate or take what they needed from the cart, but it was especially handy for people struggling to afford healthy food options.
“It’s no hassle and no pressure,” she said.
“There’s not the pressure of asking for help or people asking you what you want – if you’re struggling for food you can go up, no pressure, and take what you need.
“You don’t need to ask for help, you can come and help yourself.”
Mrs Skrypczak said on both days the cart had been emptied.
She said people were encouraged to add their own homegrown or donated vegies, with any food that’s worse-for-wear at the end of the day being used in the community garden.
“It really ties together healthy eating and the community,” she said.
“Some people still do lack food knowledge locally or lack sustainable food options, so this helps with that too.”
The project was funded by a Wodonga Council grant and staffed by Birallee volunteers.
Eventually, Mrs Skrypczak hopes to set up another cart of tinned products and another of seedlings.
She said last year the Neighbourhood House provided 24,500 frozen meals to those in need through their Our Table to Yours project while their From Your Garden to Community Table, community garden project helped people grow fresh produce.
Mrs Skrypczak said like all their projects, it was hoped the Food is Free project not only provides food and promotes ending food waste but connects the community and provides an outlet for socialisation.
Anyone can drop off excess food, take what they need or stop by for a chat.
The cart runs from Monday to Friday outside Birallee Neighbourhood House and was open from 9.30am to 2.30pm.