By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The Cranbourne Food Truck will serve for some time yet thanks to a generous donation from the Casey Cardinia Foundation and the love of the volunteers who man the operation.
It was six years ago when the concept for the food truck was born and in October 2011 the Cranbourne uniting church acquired a former CFA truck to convert into a mobile food service.
The Cranbourne Food Truck was one of nine community organisations to receive a grant from the Casey Cardinia Foundation Community Grants Program in 2016.
The project is completely funded by grants and donations from the community and treasurer Chris Marsh said the community support is what keeps the truck rolling.
“It was pretty exciting when we found out we had received the $2500 grant from the Casey Cardinia Foundation,” she said.
“We said ‘that’s good, we can go at least another six months’.
“It takes away the worry and while the operation hasn’t been precarious, this takes the pressure off and means one less grant you have to apply for.”
The money from the grant has been used to pay for the registration and insurance on the truck as well as to repair some rust and will be used for ongoing maintenance, diesel, and petrol for the generator.
Volunteer Sharon Start said the food truck was a valuable asset for the community and that it was great to have other community groups and organisations supporting the truck.
“The food truck provides a service that is greatly needed and appreciated buy those that use it,” she said.
“It’s wonderful for Cranbourne to have and wonderful to think the community are on board with us and supporting us and totally appreciate what we do for those in need,” she said.
The truck has developed and changed over the last six years from a basic truck with precooked sausages to a fully mobile food station with relief kits and meals.
The truck has grown a following over the years and the team behind it has volunteers lining up to get involved with the work it does.
“We now have four cooks, who cook a meal at home in their kitchens and we have a pie warmer and a microwave,” Ms Marsh said.
“We cater for around 20-30 people per night with quiches and sausage rolls on the truck and we now have a marquee so no weather events can stop us.”
Volunteer Roy Snook said the truck caters for all kinds of people, not just the homeless and numbers can vary drastically each night.
“There is no rhyme or reason as to why we get the people we do I think the least we have ever turnout was about four people.”
The truck not only provides a warm and nourishing meal but refers people to other services and offers social interaction for those that may not have other people to speak with.
“There are other agencies in Cranbourne that do the job during the day but we fill the gap of an evening,” Ms Start said.
“There is no one else after 5pm and sometimes we have had a few women who have just escaped a violent situation and we have been able to give them direction and help so the next day they know where to go.”
The members of the Cranbourne Food Truck team said as long as the community continues to support their work, they will be able to continue to support the community.
“The truck has become a real community focused service,” Ms Start said.
“The community, other churches and community groups, inside and outside Cranbourne, Rotary, Lions, The RSL, local schools, have all been great supporters.”
Ms Marsh will continue its good work with the help of the most recent grant and ongoing support from the community.
“As long as we can keep the momentum going it will keep going; we have no plans of doing anything differently.”
