The Ballarat Foundation announced it has raised around $15,000 through its annual Feed Ballarat Appeal so far this year.

Chief executive Andrew Eales said part of the funds were being used to support emergency food relief deliveries to schools and universities in Ballarat.

The money will also be distributed through grants to other Ballarat not-for-profit organisations to support their food relief efforts.

"We are very thankful for the way the community has responded to the appeal," Mr Eales said.

"We recognise there are many people who would like to give but just can't afford to at the moment, but those who have still had that capability have been very generous.

"I think it is a great reflection on the Ballarat community in general that we recognise and understand there is a need."

RELATED COVERAGE: COVID-19 creates a new demographic of people seeking food relief

Ballarat Foundation fundraising efforts throughout the coronavirus pandemic have been entirely through digital means, including a new virtual fitness challenge.

Participants took up the challenge to ride or walk as many laps of Lake Wendouree as possible in three months or complete the equivalent of the Goldfields Track and raise funds for the cause.

Mr Eales said more than $6500 was raised through the virtual challenge and it helped raise awareness of the issue of food insecurity in the community.

The Ballarat Foundation team is currently assessing 30 applications for Feed Ballarat grants and is expecting to announce the successful applicants in September.

Proposed projects aim to create better food outcomes in the community by providing emergency relief, programs that better skill people to utilise food and other food supports.

Mr Eales said staff and volunteers will continue delivering food hampers to school and universities to help students and families in need until at least the end of the year, as part of the Ballarat Foundation led project.

Welfare organisations have reported more people of different demographics had sought food relief in the past few months, as many people lost their jobs or had their work hours cut due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Visit ballaratfoundation.org/feedballaratappeal to make a donation to the Feed Ballarat Appeal.

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.