Brief History
The Southern Peninsula Food for All began in response to needs in our local community. These needs emerged at Poverty Forums arranged by the former Shire of Flinders in 1991. Its work has been ongoing from that time. It is ecumenically and community based.
Apart from individual members Food for All’s Committee of Management includes persons drawn from the local Churches and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We are an all-volunteer Organisation.
Over the years we have had only three Presidents, The Reverend Murray Morton, OAM who is one of our founders, from 1991 until his retirement in 2009, and our Patron, and Ken Northwood President to 2020, in 2020 Brian Allan OAM took over as President. In 2021 Noel de Sair became President after previously serving on the Committee. Unfortunately, in 2023 Noel had to resign for personal reasons. We are currently seeking a new President. From its inception food was packed at All Saints Anglican Church hall in Rosebud until we outgrew the available space. In September 2016 we saw the dedication of our new Distribution Centre and Van, both of which were made possible through community donations, and which provide us with a sound base to continue our work. The Van’s registration is “FR. JOHN” named in memory of Fr. John Hannah, a much-loved Priest from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sorrento who was an ardent supporter of our work.
Food is collected from bins marked “FOOD FOR ALL” in local Supermarkets. Local Schools also support Food for All by arranging Food Collection drives within their school communities.
Food is purchased from three local Supermarkets whenever possible when items are on special and most supermarkets also grant us an additional discount. These purchases, with funds donated by clubs, organisations and individuals, enable balanced food parcels to be provided.
Currently an average of 85 food parcels are packed every Thursday morning at our Distribution Centre in the grounds of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 16 Hinton Street, Rosebud. The parcels contain a packet of cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, long life milk, coffee, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned meals, tinned vegetables, cheese, vegemite, baked beans and noodles, together with various other donated items.
0n referral the food, parcels are distributed by members of the local Conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and also the Southern Peninsula Community Support team at Rosebud.
The work of all volunteers associated with Food for All is outstanding.
In its 32 years of operation Food for All has packed and distributed over 75,000 food parcels. To the end of December 2022 and nearly 11,000 Christmas hampers have been packed and distributed with toys being given to the children of the families receiving a hamper.
Food for All is most fortunate to have strong community support and it would not be possible to operate without the Mornington Peninsula’s loyal and caring public. It makes volunteering for Food for All so very special and worthwhile.
Christine Barnes