By Casey Neill
Avocare will keep feeding thousands of vulnerable people in Greater Dandenong and beyond thanks to an eleventh-hour lifeline.
In April, the Journal revealed that the charity needed to raise $100,000 in 90 days to keep its head above water.
On Thursday 21 June, Link Health and Community (Link HC) announced it was bringing Avocare under its umbrella.
“It’s going to be fantastic for the community because Avocare in isolation will not do what Avocare in partnership with Link can do,” Avocare founder Trish Keilty said.
“We want to increase the number of food relief and material aid into the area and hopefully work with our charities in more than one way – develop relationships with our charities.
“I’m excited.
“It’s been a hard, long road and this is a fantastic outcome not only for my charity but for the Avocare staff who stood by me throughout this whole thing.”
Link Health and Community is a not-for-profit that provides medical, health and support services to improve health and wellbeing in Melbourne’s East and South-East, and throughout eastern Victoria.
Ms Keilty, Greater Dandenong’s reigning Citizen of the Year, started Avocare in 2003.
Weekly, 125 charities in the Greater Dandenong and surrounds pick up and distribute 23 tonnes of rescued food to struggling families and those who would otherwise go hungry.
Ms Keilty said the food delivered was equivalent to 32,000 meals.
“The cost to deliver one of our meals is just $3.30,” she said.
“At our distribution warehouse, 150 people on our training and employment programs actively assist in the dissemination of the donated food and material aid.”
Link HC board chair Raff Ciccone said: “Our relationship with Avocare will not only offer financial security but also opportunities to connect our clients with what each of us has to offer.”
“Avocare has a strong food security and workplace training base, working with people on their immediate needs like food on the table while still working to prevent poverty and homelessness by providing longer-term solutions such as school-based training,” a Link HC statement said.
“By joining together, our most vulnerable community members will be given access to a wrap-around service that will help with the basics of life – health, food, education and jobs.”
Link HC executive office director Sally Ann Nadj said Avocare would stay in its Dandenong South warehouse for now.
“We certainly don’t want to change their business or change their community face at all,” she said.
“We’ll be in the back end keeping the engine running.”
