SecondBite Awarded $275,000 Grant to Expand Regional Victorian Food Rescue Capacity

SecondBite is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $275,000 Community Food Relief Program grant by the Victorian Government, enabling a major expansion of nutritious food relief for regional and rural communities across Victoria.

The grant will fund the purchase of a new 14-pallet refrigerated truck, significantly increasing SecondBite’s capacity to collect, transport, and distribute larger quantities of fresh, healthy food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Demand for food relief has continued to grow, and the expanded capacity will help ensure more community members in regional Victoria receive support.

“This grant allows us to rescue and redistribute significantly more fresh food across northern and central Victoria,” said Daniel Moorfield, SecondBite CEO. “By working closely with the Regional Food Security Alliance, Bendigo Foodshare and local producers, we’ll be able to increase nutritious food provision in communities across the Mallee — including Mildura and Swan Hill — and other regions where support is needed most.”

RFSA Chair Cathie Steele welcomed the funding:

“Many regional communities face barriers to accessing fresh, healthy food. This additional capacity will make a tangible difference to families across northern Victoria.”

Strengthening Victoria’s Food Security

The project aims to:

  • Deliver at least 120,000 additional kilograms of nutritious food to regional areas in its first year, equivalent to approximately 240,000 meals.
  • Increase farmgate rescue volumes across Victoria
  • Boost meal production through FareShare’s kitchen
  • Expand regional food donor engagement
  • Strengthen statewide food industry relationships

SecondBite thanks the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing for their support through the Community Food Relief Program. This support strengthens our long-term plans to boost food-relief infrastructure in Victoria, ensuring we can keep pace with rising community need for food relief across the state.

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