Lalor Neighbourhood House (LNH) volunteers have been left unable to feed over 90 families after the state government cut $45,000 in funding.
LNH project coordinator Hala Attalla Saba said losing food relief funding this year had been devastating for the weekly food drive.
“It is not fair to start funding and then stop it… I couldn’t sleep for three days when I found out,” Ms Attalla Saba said.
“We have had to ask people to pay five dollars if they can… and we can barely feed 30 families.
“Mothers come crying to us saying they have nothing left to feed their children.”
LNH volunteer Katherine Walsh said she once relied on food relief herself and it was disheartening to see struggling families miss out.
“As the piles of food get smaller and smaller, people get anxious and try to push forward because they’re worried they’re not going to get anything,” Ms Walsh said.
Fellow volunteer Abuzar Mohammed said he reached out to grant recipients in Whittlesea for support but was turned away.
“There is a lack of equity… eligible services across Whittlesea missed out,” he said.
“We feel helpless… we can’t say no to our community because in the end they are in need.”
A state government spokesperson said community food relief funding was doubled to $9 million last year.
“Organisations in Whittlesea shared in more than $170,000 to upgrade facilities and deliver food relief, alongside ongoing support for neighbourhood houses,” the spokesperson said.
According to the state government grants were based on geographic coverage and community need.
