Army of volunteers credited for stepping up as Melbourne food relief service reports doubling of demand

Demand for a twice-weekly free community meal program has almost doubled in a year as residents across Melbourne's bayside suburbs feel the pinch. Key points: Melbourne bayside food relief service Matt's Place reports a doubling in demand Volunteers have been credited with helping deal with the increased need A new report from Volunteering Australia underlines the crucial need for volunteers across the country An initiative of Bayside Community Care, Matt's Place has been providing food relief to anyone facing difficulty since it was established 16 years ago. 'These are people who have never needed it before' Volunteering Australia chief executive Mark Pearce said the spike in demand for services like Matt's Place was not a seasonal trend. "We are seeing, as a function of the cost-of-living crisis, really significant demand for volunteers to meet community need," Mr Pearce said. "Matt's Place remains an outlet for those people who may never have imagined they might need a helping hand," she said.