Drummond Street Services

Drummond street’s services FOODS program started during the Covid-19 Pandemic to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged people have access to food and essential care items, in an environment where they may be especially impacted by the pandemic due to their lack of personal, social and financial resources. Our disadvantaged and vulnerable clients include individuals and families in financial distress, people experiencing family violence, people experiencing homelessness or vulnerable persons such as those unable to access Centrelink payments (e.g. temporary visa holders). Since our FOODS program commenced in May, primarily funded by drummond street services, we have sourced and delivered pre-cooked frozen meals, non-perishable food hampers, Coles/Woolworths vouchers and other essential items/care packs to a total of 790 people across Northern/Western Melbourne. We have partnered with organisations including, Moving Feast, FareShare, OzHarvest, Halal Food Bank, Melbourne Period Project to source products, which our dedicated FOODS program staff, pack and deliver from our Carlton office. The outcomes we have evidenced to date, has been that our vulnerable and disadvantaged clients have continued to have food security support in the challenging, unprecedented times experienced from the impact of COVID-19. We have received many text messages from our clients in receipt of our food/care parcels acknowledging the positive impact it has had on them and their household members. The food security has lessened the burden for our clients needing to worry where their next meal will come from. We have also received positive messages of thanks for the diversity of food/care packs received which meet the cultural needs of our clients.