The shelves at the Salvation Army Ballarat Grocery Box were almost empty when The Courier visited on Wednesday morning.
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Volunteers at the supermarket style store for families needing food relief were awaiting a delivery from IGA to restock the shelves and fill orders, with the order made using funds from a $10,000 grant.
The program received the funds through the Ballarat Foundation's annual grants program last year.
Salvation Army Ballarat volunteer coordinator Kaz Thomas said the organisation would not be able to fill the Grocery Box shelves without the grant funding as they relied on community donations and Secondbite.
"It is a blessing," she said of the grant.
An average of 66 clients and their families received food through the Grocery Box in the past 12 months.
We are having larger families come of eight or 10 because some of the siblings or children have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and they have banded together to support each other.
- Kaz Thomas, Salvation Army Ballarat volunteer coordinator
Salvation Army Ballarat helped 400 new clients in the past year who have never needed help before.
"There are many families who have lost income," Ms Thomas said.
"We are having larger families come of eight or 10 because some of the siblings or children have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and they have banded together to support each other."
Grocery Box has adapted to be contactless throughout the coroanvirus pandemic. A worker assesses clients on the phone, volunteers pack their food order and place it in the client's car when they stop by.
Ms Thomas said Grocery Box would continue to apply for grant funding to support the service and encourage donations of fresh and staple foods from the community.
The Ballarat Foundation will distribute more than $100,000 this year through its annual grants program.
Chief executive Andrew Eales said the program was a big part of the Foundation's strategy to break cycles of disadvantage in the community.
"This is a really important way for the Foundation to support improvements in access to services and programs that make Ballarat a better place," he said.
"We have had tremendous feedback from previous grant recipients about the value of receiving a grant and the difference it can make for them being able to run a program or not."
Applications are open now for funding through the Ballarat Foundation's Community Impact Grants, The Courier Charity Fund, The Wendouree-Delacombe Fund and The Peter Amor Sports Participation Fund.
There is a focus on the areas of childhood success, youth success, food security and housing security for two of the categories. Visit ballaratfoundation.org/ to make an application before 5pm on May 11.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
