During the prolonged drought of the last decade (1999 to 2009), our East Loddon Community Network Group Inc., started working diligently at a
program providing 300 grocery hampers each month which were distributed by local volunteers to our local area and beyond to support families,
going through a tough time, not because of their farming practices but simply because of the weather. This program involved over 40 local
volunteers, travelling to the East Loddon Community Centre, unloading food trucks, storage of groceries in a specially set up foodbank, packing
days and then distribution. Most of the volunteers were dealing with drought too, but this program worked at providing a sense of connectedness,
friendship & hope as volunteers were involved in distributing the grocery bags in their own areas. Any concerns were referred on to professional
support agencies, Salvation Army for follow-up. Some of the feedback received then was that the groceries were gratefully received but it was
the visit and the communication which were paramount, addressing the isolation issues and not feeling alone. Back then, most of the groceries
were free so we were able to operate on minimal funding.

We have continued with this program, regulating supply to demand, through the floods of 2011 and now, again, as the weather continues to be
unpredictable and global market prices impact on our dairy industry. We are finding an increasing number of people are asking for our help this
time. In a nutshell, we have a great group of volunteers, always willing to lend a hand, at the drop of a hat, and while we are very grateful that
Victoria Foodbank are available, we now have to buy the groceries, albeit at a reduced rate, but this means that we have to source funding to
continue.

Our ELFS Program provides a vital service to our rural communities by providing essential food support to people in need but our challenge
remains sourcing the funding to continue purchasing the groceries. At present, we are able to order from Victoria Foodbank on a fortnightly
basis, with packing days once a month or as required, then distribution.

We also work in with the East Loddon P-12 College Breakfast Program by providing breakfast to over 100 children twice a week.

In the interests of accuracy, please note that the Food Share activities have been undertaken since 2007 until early 2017, under the organisation
East Loddon Community Network Group Inc.

We have now registered the organisation East Loddon Food Share Program Inc. as a separate PBI entity, to solely reflect on the Food Share
activities, and this also allowed us to seek Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 Status to support our activities.