You may have known us as Geelong Food Relief. For over 30 years, that name represented our work. But now we are Geelong Foodshare—a name that better represents everything that we do.
Geelong is the fastest-growing region in Victoria, and with that growth comes challenges. Food insecurity is on the rise, driven by soaring living costs, housing pressures, and wages that struggle to keep up. Across the G21 region, demand for food support has surged, and at Geelong Foodshare, we are adapting to meet that need while working toward long-term, sustainable change.
At our core, we collect, share, and provide nutritious food to over 60 frontline agencies that support those experiencing hardship. But we are more than just food collection and distribution. We are forging partnerships, improving efficiencies, and reshaping the food system to make a lasting impact. Our strategy focuses on three key areas: ensuring our community has reliable access to healthy food, building high-value networks to amplify our mission, and strengthening our operations to be future-ready.
To make this work, we rely on an incredible community—our volunteers, staff, donors, sponsors, frontline agencies, government supporters, and committee of management. Without them, none of this would be possible.
One of the biggest changes we have embraced is the shift towards significant partnerships. For example, we now work closely with Barwon Health, collecting nutritious excess meals daily. These meals are safely packaged and distributed through our social supermarkets and agencies like The Outpost, ensuring they reach those who need them most. Our infrastructure, logistics, and commitment to food safety allow us to be flexible and scale up when needed.
Our impact extends beyond Geelong. As one of four recipients of the Victorian Government’s Coordination Grant, we are delivering food to high-need areas like Colac and Golden Plains, where food insecurity rates are double the state average.
We are also partnering with the Geelong Botanic Gardens, where students plant vegetables, volunteers harvest them, and we distribute them to the community. Collaboration with Geelong Libraries, MELI, Cultura, and Wathaurong strengthens our approach, bringing education, cultural celebration, and cooking programs into the food security conversation.
Last year, Geelong Foodshare delivered 2.2 million meals—33% more than the previous year. But this growth is not sustainable without systemic change. That’s why we are shifting the focus from simply meeting demand to transforming the food system. Through education, growing initiatives, and knowledge-sharing, we are fostering long-term, impactful social change.
Change is never easy, especially for a volunteer-driven organisation like ours. But it is exciting. Our new name represents more than just a rebrand; it signifies our commitment to equity, dignity, and inclusion. Geelong Foodshare is not just feeding people—we are feeding social change.