FoodShare faces rising demand for meals as volunteer numbers plunge

Shepparton FoodShare's Grace Grieve says it has lost volunteers and may have to cut back operations.  (Supplied: Facebook )

Thousands of meals given to Shepparton residents in need could soon remain undelivered due to a lack of volunteers. 

Shepparton FoodShare said it could cut its four-day operation down to three, after losing two-thirds of its volunteer base primarily due to vaccination requirements.

"We are struggling for volunteers," Shepparton FoodShare operations manager Grace Grieve said.

"We fall under the food industry so our volunteers do need to be triple vaxxed so that in itself has posed some issues for us in accessing volunteers.

Ms Grieve described the charitable organisation as being in crisis mode, with only 10 volunteers now left from a former pool of 33 to help cater to a growing need across the region.

"We certainly are at a very critical stage where we may have to consider dropping a day purely and simply to maintain the safety and energy level of our current volunteers."

More demand, fewer volunteers

Shepparton FoodShare partners with supermarkets, businesses and other food rescue agencies across the state to collect food, and then deliver it to registered emergency relief agencies, churches and schools and distribute to those in need within the local community.

A Shepparton FoodShare volunteer loads food boxes onto a truck.  (Supplied: Facebook)

The team is desperately seeking at least 10 more volunteers to help between three to 15 hours a week to keep services running, particularly as living costs surge, leading to higher service demand.

"The average family is really struggling and individuals that would normally never access food relief are now finding themselves asking for support."

Despite the dire circumstances for the organisation, Ms Grieve remained optimistic the local FoodShare would not need to shut down entirely.

"When the chips are down, the community come together and they chip in when they can."

FoodShare's operations help sustain other Shepparton charities.

It delivers around two tonnes of food per week to organisations like Shepparton Family and Financial, as well as school breakfast and lunch programs.

"We are talking about thousands of individuals and families a week that through Shepparton FoodShare manage to get food, it's huge."