‘More important now than ever’: Post office a Shepp FoodShare drop-off point

FoodShare operations co-ordinator Grace Grieve said demand was as high as it had ever been, apart from the two-week period where 20,000 Sheppartonians were in isolation.

“The last two years have been really quite challenging for us to keep up with the demand,” she said.

“We’ve got 380 people across the city in isolation.

“We’re now seeing people that have never had to access food relief in their life that are now having to ask for assistance.”

Ms Grieve said the need for staples such as pasta, pasta sauce, rice, cereal and more was heightened leading up to Christmas.

“We’re very grateful to Kate and the whole team,” she said.

“Sourcing food is one of our priorities and staples, you know, things like pasta, rice, pasta sauce, cereal, anything like that, and leading up until Christmas, it's more important now than ever.”

She urged people to buy one extra item while out shopping and drop items off to one of the collection points around the city.

Shepparton Business Centre business services manager Kate Peterson said she was stoked to have the Benalla Rd site as a drop-off point.

“I just saw it as a good opportunity to jump in and help the Shepparton community,” she said.

“Australia Post is very supportive of supporting local people, and when I spoke with Grace, we were so excited to be a part of it.”

Ms Grieve said it was “humbling” to have organisations working as drop-off points but also to see the goodwill of the community, especially over the past two years.

“We have a community here like no other,” she said.

“I’ve worked around country Victoria and I’ve never worked anywhere like this ... the generosity, the kindness, the compassion that the community shows for those in need..

“I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”