The Ballarat Soup Bus are calling for donations, as the need for food assistance becomes greater than ever.
In a Facebook post, the bus is encouraging locals to donate canned meals with ring tops, small tins of tuna, chunky soups, canned fruit, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, Milo, sugar, instant coffee, long life custard, muesli and snack bars.
Craig Schepis says a shipping container that holds supplies for the bus is almost empty and their Wendouree pantry has only three cans of baked beans.
He says in his time, he never thought he’d see it this busy.
“We stocked the whole [shipping] container and at Wendouree we have a massive pantry and people are able to do a bit of shopping there and take some things with them,” he said.
“In two weeks, that was completely wiped out.”
Since the call for assistance, locals have helped the cause with Giant Ballarat donating $2,000 and Sturt Street Cobbler giving $500 to help fill the pantry.
If you’d like to donate, non-perishable food can be dropped off any Wednesday between 9:30 and 11.00am at the corner of Fussell and Eureka Street, behind the Ballarat East Men’s Shed, or every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at the same time and place.
The Food Bus says Advanced Cabinetry on Fussell Street have also offered to be a drop off point but check their opening times for when you can leave donations.
