Geelong Food Relief Centre


The Geelong Food Relief Centre (GFRC) has been operating for over 30 years and is a leading provider of food aid services throughout the Geelong Region. It is a member of the regional food security alliance being one of six hubs around Victoria that play a significant role in supporting those facing food insecurity.

 

Utilising a fleet of 5 vehicles, the GFRC collects fresh and dry food goods from major partners such as producers and supermarkets, and then distributes this through a variety of sources.  The assistance occurs in the following ways:

  • By working in partnership with agencies to provide Emergency Food Relief (EMR) via a food voucher redemption scheme. This scheme allows referred clients to access fresh nutritional food along with other essential items at the GFRC mini-marts at North Geelong and Geelong CBD, in a compassionate and dignified manner.
  • GFRC provides a bulk food distribution service where fresh and ambient food is supplied to a growing list of over 50 welfare agencies and organisations operating community pantries, kitchens or similar food relief services. 
  • GFRC works in conjunction with welfare officers at schools and early learning centers in the region, to provide emergency food hampers and vouchers to families experiencing food insecurity.
  • GFRC’s commercial kitchen space is used by volunteers to prepare nutritious meals for distribution through the mini-mart and bulk distribution service. The kitchen is also shared with community groups for the purpose of meal preparation and cooking classes for their participants.
  • To avoid waste and subsequent land fill, all fresh food not deemed suitable for use is provided to local farmers to feed their animals.

 

 

Volunteers play a vital role in the day-to-day operations in the warehouse and mini-mart. The following is a list of the types of jobs undertaken by volunteers on a daily basis:

  • Van Drivers and Van Jockeys collect (rescued and donated) and distribute (sorted) food from and to our major partners and community groups.
  • Warehouse assistants sort through collected goods. These items include but are not limited to fruit and vegetables, bread, canned items, pantry dry goods, dairy products, eggs and meat. Sorting includes packing items away into warehouse shelving and freezer/fridge space for storage until it is required.
  • Warehouse assistants also undertake secondary sorting to ensure products are ‘shop and agency ready’. This is required for eggs, fruit and vegetables, toilet paper (re-bagging into lots of two), laundry powder (into 500g tubs), fresh meat (into portion sizes) and many more product lines.
  • Mini-mart assistants are the face-to-face contact with our mini mart customers.  Customer service is vital to ensure customers understand the mini-mart system so they can maximise the amount of food they can take away with them.  Mini-mart assistants also stock the shelves, fridges and freezers so there is always plenty available.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Van Driver / Van Jockey

Driver Jockey

Working as a team the volunteer Van Drivers and Jockeys collect and distribute food items in Geelong and surrounding areas.
Working from our North Geelong warehouse this voluntary position would suit those who want to assist fellow members of our community, while working in a friendly team orientated environment.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

  • Driving Geelong Food Relief Vehicles for the purpose of collection of food from supermarkets and other various locations (Driver)
  • Riding in Geelong Food Relief vehicles along side a driver for the purpose of collection of food from supermarkets and other various locations (Jockey)
  • Loading and unloading of vehicles at the collection and receiving end
  • Weighing and recording of goods in the warehouse documentation
  • Other warehouse duties as directed by the Warehouse Supervisor
  • Manual Handling is a large component of the role
  • Assisting those in need on a daily basis
  • Following OH&S guidelines as directed by the supervisor

Required Skills / Attributes / Qualifications:

  • Current Victorian Drivers Licence (Driver only-Heavy Vehicle Not Required)
  • Good Communication Skills
  • Good Work Ethic
  • Manual Handling & Lifting
  • Maintain Respect and confidentiality
  • Be proactive and demonstrate initiative
  • Personable and dependable

Commitment:

  • Shifts are 7am-12pm, Monday- Saturday

     

  • Ongoing volunteer role

Application Process:

  • Working with Children's Check
  • Police Check
  • Participate in Safe Food Handling training, an Induction and On-The-Road training

 

Continue...

General Warehouse

General Warehouse volunteers work with the Warehouse Team to process received goods and dispatch goods. Working from our North Geelong location these voluntary positions would suit those who want to assist fellow members of our community, while working in a friendly team orientated environment.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

  • Sorting fresh food items including fruit and vegetables, eggs and bakery items
  • Maintaining the fruit and vegetable display in the Mini-mart
  • Packaging and labelling items including fresh produce, bakery items, laundry powder, toilet paper, pet food etc
  • General warehouse cleaning
  • Stock rotation of dry goods
  • Assisting with the allocation and dispatch of food items
  • Assisting with the receiving of stock into the warehouse
  • Other tasks as directed by the supervisor
  • Assisting those in need on a daily basis
  • Following OH&S guidelines as directed by the supervisor

Required Skills / Attributes / Qualifications:

  • Good Communication Skills
  • Good Work Ethic
  • Manual Handling & Lifting
  • Maintain Respect and confidentiality
  • Be proactive and demonstrate initiative
  • Personable and dependable

Commitment:

  • Shifts are: 7am-12pm & 12pm-3pm, Monday- Friday & Saturday 8.30am-1pm
  • Ongoing volunteer role

Application Process:

  • Working with Children's Check
  • Police Check
  • Participate in Safe Food Handling training, an Induction, Mini-Mart training and Customer Service training

 

Continue...

Lt Smythe St General

Lt Smythe St volunteers will be responsible for the operations of the Lt Smythe St Mini-mart.

Working from our Lt Smythe St location these voluntary positions would suit those who want to assist fellow members of our community, while working in a friendly team orientated environment.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

  • Meeting and greeting customers at the mini-mart entrance
  • Checking the validity of customer vouchers
  • Offering assistance to customers
  • Having a sound understanding of the mini-mart point system to be able to help customers and process their transaction
  • Identifying customer needs and acting on them
  • Ensuring stock levels in all areas is plentiful
  • General cleaning duties in the mini-mart including sanitizing trolley’s and counter top
  • Stock rotation of dry goods
  • Assisting those in need on a daily basis
  • Following OH&S guidelines as directed by the supervisor

Required Skills / Attributes / Qualifications:

  • Great customer service skills
  • Good Communication Skills
  • Good Work Ethic
  • Personable and dependable
  • Manual Handling & Lifting
  • Maintain Respect and confidentiality
  • Be proactive and demonstrate initiative

Commitment:

  • Shifts are 10-3pm, Monday- Friday
  • Ongoing volunteer role

Application Process:

  • Working with Children's Check
  • Police Check
  • Participate in Safe Food Handling training, an Induction, Mini-Mart training and Customer Service training
Continue...

Mini Mart Extended Hours

Volunteers working in the Mini-mart through the extended hours period will be responsible for the operations of the Mini-mart.

Working from our North Geelong location these voluntary positions would suit those who want to assist fellow members of our community, while working in a friendly team orientated environment.

Responsibilities & Tasks:

  • Meeting and greeting customers at the mini-mart entrance.
  • Checking the validity of customer vouchers
  • Offering assistance to customers
  • Having a sound understanding of the mini-mart point system to be able to help customers and process their transaction
  • Identifying customer needs and acting on them
  • Ensuring stock levels in all areas is plentiful
  • General cleaning duties in the mini-mart including sanitizing trolley’s and counter top
  • Stock rotation of dry goods
  • Following OH&S guidelines as directed by the supervisor

Required Skills / Attributes / Qualifications:

  • Great customer service skills
  • Good Communication Skills
  • Good Work Ethic
  • First Aid
  • Manual Handling & Lifting
  • Maintain Respect and confidentiality
  • Be proactive and demonstrate initiative
  • Personable and dependable

Commitment:

  • Shifts are: 3pm-7pm, Tuesday & Thursday & 8.30am-1pm Saturday
  • Ongoing volunteer role

Application Process:

  • Working with Children's Check
  • Police Check
  • First Aid
  • Participate in Safe Food Handling training, an Induction, Mini-Mart training, Emergency Evacuation Drill and Customer Service training
Continue...

Mission Statement

The Geelong Food Relief Centre Inc. is committed to providing the delivery of food aid services to disadvantaged members of the community throughout the Geelong region in a dignified and compassionate manner.