The humanitarian food packing FORaMEAL (FAM) project has again had a very busy program throughout the 2024-2025 year. This means that we have now packed over 2.1 million meals since the project commenced in 2016. This year a total of 317,300 meals were packed in a collective of 42 hours, by close to 1,300 participants. The participants came from 13 schools, the Hararian community, students from Melbourne University Rotaract and RMIT with support from the Rotary Club of Melbourne and the Rotary Club of Camberwell.
We have distributed over 600 thousand meals this year, these have been provided to the Australian Federation of Ukrainian organisations with two shipments of our meals to the needy in Ukraine and are currently gathering the supplies for our next shipment to Somaliland in addition to the one sent earlier in the year. Our supply bank to the Philippines has experienced some customs issues and to date has not been released despite many hours by Doug and his legal team. We remain hopeful that these issues will be resolved soon, and the product has not been spoiled. Another 200 thousand has been distributed to Food Bank Victoria for distribution to food banks/support services for the needy throughout Victoria.
The planning and activities take many hours behind the scenes – the raw product supplies ordering and splitting for easier weight management, general supplies, cleaning of the kits and the reloading /unloading and maintenance of our truck is all completed. Storage of all our supplies, packed product awaiting shipment is all located at Dandenong.
The FAM team of Doug, Nora, Val and Jill thank all the Rotary members, friends and supporters for their ongoing support. No event can happen without your ongoing support and contributions. Your willingness to readily give of your time and energy is always appreciated and especially when you rejuggle your schedules in response to the grovel hour!
The usual stall warts of Alan Stevens, David Zrna, Rob Simpson, Kyle Wightman, Bill Granger, Kate and Gerry Cross, Ant Balocca, Helen Hartnett, Pat Little and Neil Williams and Margaret Hamilton. And when their studies enable, Tahlia Vosnakis and Liam Howard. And of course, Patrick Cunniffe when he and Val are back in Melbourne.
We acknowledge and appreciate the ongoing support of Pam, Marg and Celina who are supported by Australasia Pty Ltd to complete community support projects and to Andrew, Catherine, Tim and Richard of the Rotary Club of Maroondah who readily support the Yarra Valley Grammar events and assist them financially every year.
We again extend a warm welcome and thanks to our new members to the team. Namely: Craig Smith, John Vosnakis, John Wormsley, Lester Gerhard, Anne-Maree Downes, Julie-Anne McLean and Kylie McQualter.
It is with sadness that I acknowledge the death of our late Rotary member, David Shave. A true supporter and contributor to our Project. I really miss his frequent phone calls just enquiring how the team was going and was the event planning on track! Vale David.
With much appreciation and thanks to the Board, especially John Braine, the Treasurer, general members and our philanthropic supporters we are again ready to meet the demands of another anticipated busy year ahead in 2025-2026. We have even more schools wanting to have an event, our previous successes have created more challenges for us to meet the demands and expectations of everyone.
Nora Ley