The Bass Coast Community Foundation visited Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre (PICAL) recently to deliver well needed funds to support the ongoing costs of the Phil Dixon Food Pantry.

The weekly food hampers that the Pantry gives out, also include pre-cooked complete meals.  Hampers include a range of kitchen and pantry staples, along with meals  prepared by PICAL volunteers, using ingredients from their own Community Garden, surrounding supermarkets and from many local produce donors.

Over the last two and a half years, PICAL has assisted more than 26,000 people who needed help with issues ranging from homelessness, unemployment and poverty, through to mental health problems and women escaping family violence.”  PICAL’s Phil Dixon Emergency Food Relief Pantry has remained open every weekday throughout the entire COVID pandemic and beyond. 

Operated by volunteers, over the past two and a half years, it has received almost 14,500 visits from people who struggle to put food on the table, equating to around 110 people who need help to feed their household each week. 

“PICAL are very grateful to Bass Coast Community Foundation for their generosity and ongoing support of the Food panty for residents in need in the Phillip Island area”, Greg Thompson, PICL manager said.

Executive Officer for the Foundation, Sarah Bourke said the Community Grants aim to help local eligible organisations identify and address areas of need and disadvantage through evidence-based early interventions, and help build resilience, well-being, and opportunities for Bass Coast residents. All Community Grants are funded by the generosity of the Foundation's donors from the Bass Coast community.  

The Bass Coast Community Foundation (BCCF) is for local people of the Bass Coast. Since 2002 the Foundation has donated more than $1 million to local projects to make local  communities stronger, more resilient, and healthy. 

By partnering with local organisations BCCF can be agile in understanding and responding to the needs of the Bass Coast  community on the ground.  Current areas of focus include; reducing the incidence and risk of homelessness and housing stress; and increasing aspirations of young people and opportunities for local women and girls.   

For more information about the Foundation go to www.bccf.org.au or follow them on Facebook on Linked In pages.