Southern Cross potato farmer Peter Lane gave 1300 kilograms of freshly-picked potatoes to the charity organisation this month.

Food Share executive officer Dedy Friebe said it was a very generous gift at what was a bleak time of year, helping to meet the ever-increasing community demand.

Mr Friebe estimated the donation was worth about $800 and said it had begun distributing them to the city’s two soup kitchens and in hampers to needy families. 

“The Lane brothers of Southern Cross are very helpful each year with a substantial donation of potatoes, particularity in the months like now when things are pretty tough for families, Mr Friebe said. 

“It’s a terrific donation and we certainly extend our thanks to the Lane brothers and the Lane family for their support.

“There’s also the McCutcheons who help us out. All the potato farmers in the south-west are looking after us.”

He said demand for food hampers continued to grow. “May was our biggest month ever. We’re having big weeks. We’re doing 100-110-plus hampers a week now so we’re really needing the volume of food to be able to make sure our hampers maintain the quality that we’re pleased with.” 

Mr Friebe said the group had an amazing public response following an article in The Standard last month. “We got about 500 kilos of donated groceries. It’s 20 to 25 hampers. It was fantastic. It was the time of year when we need that soup, baked beans and pasta. We’re extremely grateful.” 

He said cereal, pasta, baked beans, tinned fruit and two-minute noodles needed to be donated to help families during winter. 

“There’s no getting away from it,” he said. “There’s definitely a very strong demand out there for people wanting some support.”

To donate non-perishable food items drop them at 24A Harrington Road, Warrnambool Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 12pm.

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