Sixty recipients share in over $167,400 in community funding grants

A community meal service providing food relief to families in need and people experiencing homelessness is among 60 Maroondah initiatives to benefit from more than $167,400 thanks to Council’s Community Grants Funding Program for 2021/22.

Each year, Council offers eligible community organisations the opportunity to share in funding made available through its Community Grants Funding Program.

Maroondah Mayor, Cr Kylie Spears, said the funding would support some wonderful community projects and initiatives, as well as helping to improve facilities and services across the city.

“This year’s recipients come from a broad range of community groups, with a significant amount of funding being allocated to emergency relief, mental health programs, and programs that support children, youth, seniors and disability groups,” Cr Spears said.

The Dining Room Mission (TDR Mission) in Croydon, which has been operating since 2005, is one of this year’s beneficiaries, receiving a $3400 grant to help with the purchase of food for its weekly meal service.

Since COVID-19, TDR Mission has had to adapt its service from its usual two-course sit-down meal offered to guests in the hall behind St John the Divine Anglican Church to providing takeaway meals out of ADRA Vive Café.

FareShare kitchen volunteer Jack Merx helps to run TDR Mission’s weekly meal service, which feeds between 60 and 75 people including rough sleepers, families with young children and others who are doing it tough.

Jack says TDR Mission lost three months’ worth of food when power was cut off for several days during last month’s devastating storms.

“We were without power for three or four days,” he said. “All our food went off. We have three freezers at the local school and we had to throw everything out before the long weekend.

“We rely on the goodness of Council, local churches, schools, businesses and individuals and our networking to provide food and money,” Jack said.

“We are thrilled to receive the $3400 which will allow us to buy food from Foodbank and other organisations. We are just one of many organisations who collectively provide for those most vulnerable. It also provides opportunities for those who have a passion for helping others,” he added.

A program to promote active participation in community sport for people with a disability, community learning opportunities to support positive ageing, and programs helping settlement of newly arrived migrants are among other projects to be funded.

Cr Spears said the Community Grants Funding Program was available to incorporated or auspiced, not-for-profit organisations or groups with limited access to financial resources.

“Council is pleased to be able to assist these groups to develop programs, projects and events for the Maroondah community which might otherwise have taken years of fundraising efforts to raise the necessary funds,” Cr Spears said.

“The funding will also help community groups to upgrade and improve programs, fund equipment purchases, and assist with providing emergency relief,” she said.

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Applications for the 2022/23 funding round will open in March 2022.