The support and security of a roof over our head and somewhere to call home is something that many people take for granted.
Many youths across north-east Victoria, however, do not have that privilege of knowing where they will be sleeping from one evening to the next.
On top of that they often do not know where their next meal might come from.
“NESAY’s Fair Feed program began in Benalla six months ago and the community has been really supportive and NESAY’s young people are really enjoying having the program available to them in their home town.”
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To address this food insecurity in vulnerable young people, NESAY, a youth and family community agency based in north-east Victoria, developed the Fair Feed program.
The program offers homeless or at-risk-of-homelessness young people a meal in local cafes and has been operating successfully in Benalla for more than six months.
The Fair Feed program is similar to that of the "pay it forward" concept.
Once approved for the program the young person receives a café card that looks similar to a coffee loyalty card.
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With this card they can purchase a meal up to $15 at participating cafes.
The young person pays $3 toward the meal and NESAY funds the remaining cost.
Fair Feed coordinator Melissa van Bergen said NESAY was enjoying working together with the Benalla community to support vulnerable youth.
“Fair Feed has just had two more great local cafes join the program, Rustik Cafe & Foodstore and Brad & Mel's Snack Bar,” Ms Van Bergen said.
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“Like our existing cafes the new cafes are community minded and enthusiastic about being part of the program and helping disadvantaged young people.
“NESAY’s Fair Feed program began in Benalla six months ago and the community has been really supportive and NESAY’s young people are really enjoying having the program available to them in their home town.”
To date the Fair Feed program has provided 121 meals in local cafes for disadvantaged youth.
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The original participating cafes Bertalli’s Alpine Breads and Noodle for U have reported positive feedback from the community and the donation jars available at the cafes have shown generous local support for the program.
The Fair Feed program is funded by the Geoff and Helen Handbury foundation in conjunction with ACE radio.
Local donations help support the program and make it sustainable into the future.
● You can contribute to the donation jars found at the Fair Feed cafes or to make a tax-deductible donation, click here or phone 5720 2201.
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