IGA partners with Vinnies in pilot scheme

8th September 2020 | Eativity editors

IGA is sponsoring one of St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria’s soup van services with non-perishable groceries in a promising pilot scheme to help address the increasing food poverty that many Victorians in inner-city Melbourne are facing.

IGA will provide Vinnies Victoria’s Fitzroy-Collingwood Soup Van Hub – a COVID-19-safe service delivering vital contactless food hampers and parcels to people who are doing it tough in the area – with groceries every week until the end of the year. More than 130 Vinnies Victoria’s tireless volunteers will deliver the hampers to people in need ­– and will be assisted in packing the hampers by IGA volunteers when COVID-19 restrictions safely allow.

Hampers of food will be delivered to those in need.

In July, the Collingwood and Fitzroy Soup Van served more than 16,500 people with food through hampers or individual meals. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on many people across the state, so IGA retailers are rallying together to support vulnerable people who have been impacted by the pandemic. 

“Many families and individuals in Melbourne are under intense financial hardship and facing uncertain job prospects due to the devastating impact of COVID-19” says Vinnies Victoria Soup Van Manager Sarah Cromie. “We have seen a doubling of demand on some services.

“For thousands of Australians, the coronavirus crisis means that, for the first time, they’re struggling to get food on the table. Thanks to our friends at IGA, we’re able to continue to support people and communities in need.”

IGA’s first delivery to Vinnies arrives.

IGA has had a national partnership with Vinnies for 10 years during their annual Christmas Appeal, which raises much-needed funds to support people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage during the holiday season.

The Victorian-based sponsorship will see IGA provide non-perishable items including baked beans, pasta, instant noodles, tinned vegetables, tuna, soup and water. The items will be included in hampers packed at Vinnies’ Fitzroy-Collingwood Food Hub. Vinnies Victoria volunteers – or “Vannies” – will deliver the hampers to families and individuals in temporary accommodation and local rough sleepers after people request assistance through the charity’s assistance call centre.

People in need can contact Vinnies Victoria for assistance with food on 1800 305 330 (Monday – Friday 10am to 3pm). Want to help? Vinnies accepts donations of money and goods. Find out more at donate.vinnies.org.au