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A guide to finding healthy, accessible and affordable food

during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Many people are worried about where to buy culturally appropriate, healthy and affordable food. It can be hard to find fresh and high-quality foods that are affordable and grown locally.

If we all follow some simple steps, everyone can access the foods they need whilst supporting local growers and businesses.

Finding Food in Casey, Cardinia and

Greater Dandenong

Last updated: 4 November 2020

Page 1

Supermarkets

Major supermarkets have responded to the Coronavirus by offering

contactless delivery to your home. Check your local supermarket or

grocer to see what delivery options or other helpful options they are

offering.

Alternatives to shopping at the supermarket

Supermarkets are not the only option when food shopping. You can

shop for food locally from small businesses.

*Please note some farmers markets may not be operating as normal during this

time, so please contact your local farmers market to get more information. Local

places to buy food include:

• Farmers markets

• Green grocers/ fruit and vegetable shops/ produce markets

• Smaller grocery shops

• Butchers

• Bakeries

• Local food hubs

• Farm gate sales

Find local food alternatives on page 5

‘local food directories’.

Online vegetable box/meal subscriptions

There are more options to buy fresh fruit and vegetable boxes online.

These boxes are delivered to your home.

You can also order online meals. These meals come packaged and

delivered to your home. You then cook the meal from the ingredients

sent to you, following the recipe card.

Below are links to online vegetable box and meal

subscriptions.

Woolworths Basics Box

Garfield Fresh

Harvest Raw

Eatables

You can also Google search 'Vegetable box delivery' or 'fresh meal

delivery' for more options.

Page 2

Emergency Food Relief

Eligible Victorians in mandatory self-isolation running short on food and

unable to have any dropped-off by family and friends, are eligible for a

"Food and Personal Care Package". This package contains a two-

weeks supply of essential food items. People wishing to request a pack

should call Victoria’s dedicated Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or

visit the website at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Please see links and numbers below to learn more about the

Emergency Food Relief services available in Cardinia Shire, City of

Casey and City of Greater Dandenong include:

*Please note some emergency food relief services may not be

operating as normal during this time, so please contact your local

emergency food relief for more information.

City of Greater Dandenong: Project Hope (Salvation Army)

Emergency Relief Service Phone for an appointment:

Dandenong/Doveton - 9794 3500 Noble Park - 9547 8629

South East Community Links- Springvale/ Dandenong

5 Osborne Avenue, Springvale-9546 5255 186 Foster Street East, Dandenong- 9791 8344 Crisis support – available to limited postcodes- Call for appointment Cornerstone Contact Centre

25-27 James Street Dandenong Takeaway meals Tuesday and Friday 12noon

Phone 0481 186 323 CoCO’s Dandenong Shop

Shop 2, 48-50 McCrae Street, Dandenong Food parcels limited service- ring before referral

Phone 9736 3736 or 0438 751 958 Dandenong Baptist Church 25-27 James Street, Dandenong Nourish Community Meal hosted outside on Sundays 6pm Phone 9792 3204

Page 3

Enjoy Church East – Restore program Food pantry via drive through service Phone 9240 6000 Friends of Refugees (FOR)

1D Parsons Avenue, Springvale Food aid by delivery only must ring for service

Phone 9574 6291 Jesuran Wellness Centre

Block D, 60 Douglas St, Noble Park Food delivery

Phone 8558 8870 Asylum Seekers Centre

Level 1, The Hub Arcade, Dandenong Provision of food for Asylum Seekers who reside in

Clayton, Cities of Greater Dandenong and Casey. Food distributed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Phone 9802 5268 or0409 416 744 Keysborough Learning Centre (KLC)

402 Corrigan Road, Keysborough Emergency food relief

Call 9798 7005 Australian Red Cross

Level 1, 280 Thomas Street, Dandenong (Office closed) People Seeking Asylum without income only. Phone 8327 7370 (hotline)

Springvale Benevolent Society

1 Lightwood Rd, Springvale Phone for assistance. Food or voucher delivered. Call 9546 5558 We Care Community Service

307 Gladstone Rd, Dandenong North and Unit 11, 2-8 Northey Road, Lynbrook

Food and clothing on Thursday and Friday from 10.30am to 2pm Phone 8791 5255 or 1300 762 522 St James Church Langhorne St, Dandenong Takeaway lunch Monday 12.00pm Sikh Volunteers Australia

Prepared vegetarian meals delivered. Order by 12noon. Phone or text 0423 359 279 or 0401509 236

Page 4

City of Casey: Salvation Army- Cranbourne

Food relief Phone 5995 0133

Sikh Volunteers Australia Prepared vegetarian meals delivered. Order by 12noon Phone or text: 0423 359 279 or 0401509 236

Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre

34 Oak Ave, Doveton Foodbank by appointment.

Phone 9791 1449 or Facebook message

The Andrews Centre 2-6 Hanna Dr, Endeavour Hills Food vouchers (Doveton and Endeavour Hills residents only)

Phone 9700 4944

Casey North Community Information and Support Service Suite 2/30-32 Verdun Dr, Narre Warren Food vouchers

Phone 9705 6699 Cranbourne Community Information and Support Service

56 Sladen St, Cranbourne Food vouchers

Phone 5996 3333

Cardinia Shire: Salvation Army (Doorways Program) Pakenham

51 Bald Hill Rd, Pakenham Food relief and material aid.

Phone 5941 4906

EMPOWER (Planet Shakers Church) RCS Products, 12 Bormar Drive, Pakenham. Food relief and material aid.

Available Sundays between 10.30am and 3pm. Phone 9896 7999 Siri Guru Nanak Darbar 33 Officer Road, Officer Delivering vegetarian meals twice a week. Phone 0421 061 177 Gurudwara Baba Budha Sahib Ji Order before 12pm each day for freshly cooked vegetarian meals delivered nightly for those in need. Phone 0469 826 283 or 0433 483 335

Page 5

ADRA Adventist Development and Relief Agency- Pakenham

50 Lakeside Blvd, Pakenham. Take away meals and care packages. Delivery available.

Phone 1800 242 372 Follow Blessed Collective - Pakenham

Care packs - eligibility criteria applies Email info@follow.church or call 59432137 / 0411543817 for

more information. Emerald Community House

358 Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald Food is Free Pantry available 24/7- no appointment needed

For more information call 0401 631 153. Cockatoo Community House

23 Bailey Rd, Cockatoo

Food is free pantry provided on the deck- No appointment needed Phone 5968 9031 for more information. The Food Store at St. Luke’s- Cockatoo

1 McBride Street, Cockatoo Food hampers

Phone 0422 737818 to organise. Koo Wee Rup Connect (Turning Point Church)

335 Rossiter Rd, Koo Wee Rup Food and grocery items

Phone to make an appointment on 5997 2217 Bunyip and District Community House

Beswick Street, Garfield Food bank on Wednesdays between 10am - 3pm

Phone 0481 895 509

Local food directories:

• Cardinia Food Relief Directory

• Emergency Relief Support (Ask Izzy)

• Helping Hand Across Melbourne

• Cardinia Farm and Food Directory

• Dandenong Market

• Local Farmers Direct

• Local Food Connect

• Pakenham Community Grocer

• Cockatoo & Surrounds Co-Op

Page 6

Grow your own food

There are many co-benefits to growing your own fresh produce,

whether that is in a community garden or in your own backyard.

Here are just some of the many benefits:

✓ Knowing where your food comes from

✓ Keeps you active outdoors

✓ Helps you eat a healthier diet

✓ Saves you money buying food from the supermarkets

✓ Good for your mental health and wellbeing

✓ Gives you a sense of achievement and happiness

You do not need a big garden (or any garden at all) to grow herbs, fruit

or vegetables. Some herbs, tomatoes, beans, and other leafy greens

can grow in pots.

Resources to help you start growing your own food:

Growing from seed- any garden size! (YouTube)

Growing vegetables without a garden Growing vegetables Australia

Grow It Local

Vic Health seasonal vegetable guide

Sustain: The Australian Food Network

Once COVID-19 restrictions lift, consider joining a community

garden!

Community Gardens Australia has a directory to help you find

your closest community garden.

Online community groups

There are lots of online community groups you can join, to keep

social, connected to your community and learn some new skills.

Some local groups are listed below:

South East Melbourne Shared

Supplies Green living in Casey

Love Your Neighbour

Cardinia Food Movement

A Guide to Cardinia

Green Living in Casey

Cockatoo Community House

Grow Together Community Group

Page 7

What to do with excess food?

Do not let excess food go to waste. There are many options for you to

donate, safely store and use food as needed.

Council websites are a great place to start to learn how to reduce your

household waste.

Cardinia Shire

City of Casey

City of Greater Dandenong

Donate to a local charity

If you have too many canned or packaged foods in the pantry,

consider donating to a local emergency food relief charity.

Many local charities are experiencing reduced food donations. This

puts pressure on food relief organisations.

See Page 3 for local emergency food relief

details. Charities accepting donations.

Foodbank Victoria

Bless Collective Food Van: click this link for emergency relief

Preserving

Preserving excess food is a simple way to extend the storage life of

fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, and meat.

There are many ways to preserve food including:·

• Drying and dehydrating

• Freezing

• Fermentation

• Pickling

• Olive Oil

To learn about the different ways you can preserve food please click

the links below:

Food preservation basics

Vic Health food storage and safety tips

Page 8

Re-growing vegetables

There are many common vegetables that you grow can re-grow

from scraps. When cutting vegetables, you can use the leftover

pieces to sprout fresh leaves. They will be ready to eat in just a few

weeks!

Why should you re-grow vegetables?

✓ Reduces food waste ✓ Easy for beginners

✓ Saves money on buying fresh

produce

✓ Fun for the kids

What vegetables can I re-grow?

Here are some common vegetables and herbs that you can re-grow from scraps:

Spring onion and Leeks - keep the white part of the onion or leek with the roots.

Place in a glass with water.

Lettuce - cut off the bottom of the lettuce. Place in small bowl of water.

Basil - cut the plant a few centimetres below the leaves. Place in a cup of water.

Mint - cut the plant a few centimetres below the leaves. Place in a cup of water.

Oregano - cut the plant a few centimetres below the leaves. Place in a cup of

water.

Celery - cut off about 5cm off the bottom of the plant. Place in a small bowl of

water.

Carrot - place the cut-off end in a shallow bowl of water. You can’t regrow an

actual carrot,

but you can regrow the carrot leaves and add to salads or use to make pesto.

Bok Choy - cut off the bottom of the stalk. Place in a small bowl of water.

Page 9

Learning how to compost

Composting your food waste means you send less waste to landfill and it

produces nutrient-rich soils that is great for your garden!

Here are some useful links to help you get started:

City of Casey composting guide

Sustainability Victoria: how to compost food & garden waste

Bulk Cook-ups

If you can afford and have freezer space, planning a bulk cook-up can

save time and help reduce food waste. Bulk cook-ups allow you to use

up any fresh food that you have too much of. It also creates meals for

another time.

Tips and a few simple recipes available in the links

below: How to freeze foods successfully

Things to avoid when freezing food What foods can I

freeze? Delicious bulk cooking meal recipes

Reduce your food costs

Tips for reducing your food costs are:

• Growing your own food or joining a community garden

• Buying seasonal produce

• Look for roadside stalls and pop up stands as growers

look for resourceful ways to make their products

available.

• Buy a little more produce than you need (without hoarding) and

share with your neighbours. Come together and help each other

by exchanging what you have more of for what you have less of.

• Call and ask a farmer about mail order/home delivery – many

suppliers are adding services such as direct-to-door delivery to

support their customers.

Swapping ingredients

You may have trouble finding the foods or ingredients you usually buy,

there are alternatives available. Check if your neighbours have the

ingredients you need and arrange a food swap.

Page 10

Eating healthy

It is really important to make sure you are eating the right amount of foods that are healthy and gives you the nutrients that your body needs to function! There are some great resources around to help you eat healthy such as:

Cook Well, Eat well

Cook well, Eat well in other languages Live Lighter

Better Health Channel

Food Handling and Safety

The spread of Coronavirus through food is very unlikely. You should

always practice good hygiene when handling and preparing food.

Food Safety Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has

provided the following advice when handling and preparing food.

Throw away the packaging

Coming into contact with any surface carrying Coronavirus can place

you at some risk, it is important to remove packaging your food comes

in as soon as possible and wash your hands straight after. It is also

important to wash or sanitise your hands after doing the grocery

shopping.

Page 11

Take away and home delivery meals

Practice social distancing

Avoid meeting food couriers in person. It is possible to let them know

online where they can safely leave your food. This is usually done in

the delivery instructions section of your order.

Clean your hands

Clean your hands before and after touching packaging and eating

Contactless food and other items delivery

When eating delivered food, it is best to use your own plates and

cutlery. Do not eat out of the container and clean your counter and

table before and after eating.

Throw away the packaging the food came in and wash your hands

as soon as possible.

There are options for contactless delivery of essential items,

medicine and food. They use a GPS to track delivery of your items.

Below is a link to 13 things (13cabs delivery service)

13 things

This fact sheet was adapted from the Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership Fact sheet, developed in

partnership with Food For All Latrobe Valley and Baw Baw Food Movement – available from

https://www.centralwestgippslandpcp.com/covid-19- coronavirus-resources