GREATER Dandenong council wants the city’s poorest people to improve their shopping and eating habits.
The council this week launched its Food For Everybody project at Noble Park’s Paddy O’Donoghue Centre.
The council is hoping to target new arrivals, refugees, and people living in boarding homes and caravan parks.
As part of the package, the council will subsidise meals for eligible participants through local cafes, providing opportunities for education about shopping and healthy meal preparation, and inform people on where to buy low cost, fresh food.
City mayor Peter Brown said the project was greatly needed in the Greater Dandenong community.
“There is growing evidence that people experiencing food insecurity are more likely to be overweight or obese and food insecurity has a detrimental effect on a person’s health and well being,” he said.
“The Food For Everybody Project is a wonderful step in the right direction to making sure everyone in our community has fresh, healthy food options.”