In response to the closure of Life Op Shop in late April 2023, a collaborative effort has been established between the Greater Shepparton Foundation, Shepparton FoodShare and Mooroopna Education Activity Centre to provide crucial support to the Mooroopna community.
Life Op Shop, which served as both an op shop and a welfare agency, suffered significant damage in the October 2022 floods and became “unusable”.
Life Church minister Ryan Black said putting a number on the amount of people who regularly accessed FoodShare services through the op shop was a near-impossible task, and said without it, community members needed a new station for their immediate needs.
Shepparton FoodShare executive officer Glenn Peric said the op shop was one of the largest beneficiaries of food provisions in Mooroopna.
To address this gap, Shepparton FoodShare has partnered with MEAC.
Under this collaboration, MEAC, now a registered agency of Shepparton FoodShare, will collect additional food resources to extend its food relief service.
Shepparton FoodShare provides food to agencies all over the region for distribution to those in need.
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer Amanda McCulloch said funds from the Community Flood Recovery campaign had enabled MEAC to incorporate food relief as part of its services.
“We knew with Life Op Shop not being available for the community there would need to be something quickly to help get people through winter, and it was brilliant that FoodShare and MEAC were able to step up and provide a short-term solution while we all work to find a long-term solution,” Ms McCulloch said.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10am to 1pm, individuals can access meals, staples, fruits and vegetables from MEAC, at 23 Alexandra St, Mooroopna, taking what they need to ensure their wellbeing.
“We’re flexible, we’re reactive to the needs of our community and this just makes sense, and happened pretty quickly actually — the partnerships are kind of awesome.” MEAC manager Jan Phillips said.
“Starting today we’ll have food for anybody who might need it. They can come in and help themselves, basically.”