"“SalvoConnect Western provides emergency accommodation and support for women and children who have experienced homelessness for a variety of reasons. Salvo Connect has fostered a wonderful partnership with "Food is Free" due to the strong link to homelessness and food insecurity. Homelessness not only deprives people of comfort, safety, and dignity but is the cause of many other issues, including food insecurity which can affect the physical and mental well being of families. The wonderful grass roots, food-sharing movement- "Food is Free", serves the purpose of not only giving residents access to fresh, healthy food but just as importantly connects the people who live in the accommodation with the local community. A strong connection to community is one of the highest protective factors for future homelessness. Lou drives this spirit of community and inclusion for all with real hope and optimism, which translates to the children and families she works with."
Amber Byvoet, RAMP Co-ordinator | SalvoConnect Western, The Salvation Army
+ + + + + + + + +
"Ballarat Community Health (BCH) convenes the Food Access Network of which Lou Ridsdale from Food is Free Laneway is a member. The Food Access Network (FAN) was formed in 2015 in response for the need for stakeholders in the area of food security to work more collaboratively together to share resources, experiences, ideas and collectively investigate the concept of a centralised food hub in Ballarat. BCH acknowledges and supports the initiatives that the Food is Free Laneway undertakes in the area of food security to support local residents to have access to healthy fresh produce."
Melissa Farrington, Health Promotion Officer | Ballarat Community Health
+ + + + + + + + +
"As a teacher of young adults at Federation College, a school of Federation University, we have been actively involved with the Food is Free Laneway since 2016. Lou and her amazing team of volunteers have enabled us to learn more about health and nutrition through sharing and cooking in-season produce that we source at the Food is Free Laneway as well as understanding the amazing feeling of community spirit and giving back and making a difference through volunteering. Our Year 11 and Year 12 are currently developing their carpentry skills through building shelving and notice boards for the new Food is Free site and our young adults, with varying learning abilities are learning about the plant cycle – all through the simply act of volunteering!
Lou and her team are always so enthusiastic, inclusive and welcoming of all my students. Each time we visit I feel privileged and thankful that we have remarkable people in our community that develop such enterprises. Thank you Lou!"
Leisa van Hammond, Teacher | Federation College
+ + + + + + + + +
"Ballarat Permaculture Guild Inc. (BPG) is delighted to be associated with the Food is Free Laneway project Inc. This initiative created by Lou Ridsdale initially, and later with the backing of the leadership committee and a group of dedicated supporters is a great example of community spirit in action. BPG's goals and aims are in many ways aligned with those of the Food is Free Project and we are pleased to be able to offer support to the Project in whatever way we can to promote wellbeing, awareness of food production and security with the focus on community education and engagement.
We believe that Food truly can be Free and our support could include very practical measures, such as assistance with practical tasks, support with education and cross promotion, or donations of time and materials. Good luck and all the very best for the ongoing prosperity and success of the Project."
Erica Muir, Secretary | Ballarat Permaculture Guild. Inc.
+ + + + + + + + +
The Community Engagement unit of the City of Ballarat has worked with Lou Ridsdale as the founder and Director of Food is Free Inc. over the past two years. During that time Ms Ridsdale has been the driving force of the initiative which encourages people to donate and collect fresh food for free from the laneway adjoining her property. The initiative has quickly gained strong and widespread community support and as the project grew Ms Ridsdale worked with commitment and initiative to ensure the sustainability of the project into the future. By forming a committee and becoming incorporated, Ms Ridsdale has gathered a group of fellow supporters with diverse skills and set the governance procedure in place so the group has been able to apply for funding for vital infrastructure. Ms Ridsdale has excellent communication skills, has been able to promote and garner support for the Food is Free project through social media and by engaging with television, radio and print media. Ms Ridsdale also has a strong sense of community and although the project addresses a basic human right to food, it has also provided an opportunity for socialising and community strengthening. The City of Ballarat have been working with the Food is Free Inc. committee to move the site across to the nearby community hall at Western Oval. As this site is in use and leased by other community groups, Ms Ridsdale has shown great resilience by remaining positive and enthusiastic when this process has taken nearly two years to achieve.
Caroline Amirtharajah, Health and Wellbeing Planner | City of Ballarat
+ + + + + + + + +
"Munash Natural Fertilisers t/a Munash Organics is thrilled to come on board and support all facets of Food is Free Inc. Education and knowledge about where our food comes from and how it is produced is something very close to our hearts and we feel strongly aligned to the key principles and values of Food Is Free Inc. Munash Organics is pleased to offer you in kind cash donations, any materials for your garden beds and of course unlimited supply of our Certified Organic Products. We trust this relationship will continue to grow and prosper in the future and the team at Munash Organics is absolutely 100% behind you all the way."
Rebecca Djordjevic, Co-Founder & CEO | Munash Organics
+ + + + + + + + +
"The Food Is Free Laneway project is a terrific example of a highly successful community led project and has gone from strength to strength in the last few years since its inception in late 2014. Although the simple concept of sharing excess home grown produce is not new, this project has taken that concept to a new level by expanding the reach through clever social media and mainstream media coverage. Lou Ridsdale who started the Food Is Free Laneway has been tireless and positive in her approach to spreading the message, engaging community members and working with others. The project is a great example of how effective grassroots community actions can be in inspiring others to make positive and small changes that impact on health and wellbeing, food security and social connectedness. Lou's patience and perseverance has led to the project growing and to the Food Is Free Laneway becoming an incorporated group. There is now a Committee of Management and positive relationships with City of Ballarat have been established to assist with the expansion of the project to the Western Oval site. I am continually impressed with the terrific level of community engagement inspired by this project. I have also enjoyed watching the success and seeing the personal stories about the connections made, produce shared and progress made on working bees and shared on social media and via mainstream media. I have also enjoyed sharing some of my own excess produce at times of abundance! It is clear that the success has been achieved by hard work and perseverance of Lou, the committee and many community members. This is a great example of building community resilience through a project that assists towards local food security, community education with social and environmental benefits. I thoroughly endorse the efforts of the Food Is Free Laneway committee and this project. I wish them success in building on the existing strengths of the project."
Cr. Belinda Coates | City of Ballarat
Amber Byvoet, RAMP Co-ordinator | SalvoConnect Western, The Salvation Army
+ + + + + + + + +
"Ballarat Community Health (BCH) convenes the Food Access Network of which Lou Ridsdale from Food is Free Laneway is a member. The Food Access Network (FAN) was formed in 2015 in response for the need for stakeholders in the area of food security to work more collaboratively together to share resources, experiences, ideas and collectively investigate the concept of a centralised food hub in Ballarat. BCH acknowledges and supports the initiatives that the Food is Free Laneway undertakes in the area of food security to support local residents to have access to healthy fresh produce."
Melissa Farrington, Health Promotion Officer | Ballarat Community Health
+ + + + + + + + +
"As a teacher of young adults at Federation College, a school of Federation University, we have been actively involved with the Food is Free Laneway since 2016. Lou and her amazing team of volunteers have enabled us to learn more about health and nutrition through sharing and cooking in-season produce that we source at the Food is Free Laneway as well as understanding the amazing feeling of community spirit and giving back and making a difference through volunteering. Our Year 11 and Year 12 are currently developing their carpentry skills through building shelving and notice boards for the new Food is Free site and our young adults, with varying learning abilities are learning about the plant cycle – all through the simply act of volunteering!
Lou and her team are always so enthusiastic, inclusive and welcoming of all my students. Each time we visit I feel privileged and thankful that we have remarkable people in our community that develop such enterprises. Thank you Lou!"
Leisa van Hammond, Teacher | Federation College
+ + + + + + + + +
"Ballarat Permaculture Guild Inc. (BPG) is delighted to be associated with the Food is Free Laneway project Inc. This initiative created by Lou Ridsdale initially, and later with the backing of the leadership committee and a group of dedicated supporters is a great example of community spirit in action. BPG's goals and aims are in many ways aligned with those of the Food is Free Project and we are pleased to be able to offer support to the Project in whatever way we can to promote wellbeing, awareness of food production and security with the focus on community education and engagement.
We believe that Food truly can be Free and our support could include very practical measures, such as assistance with practical tasks, support with education and cross promotion, or donations of time and materials. Good luck and all the very best for the ongoing prosperity and success of the Project."
Erica Muir, Secretary | Ballarat Permaculture Guild. Inc.
+ + + + + + + + +
The Community Engagement unit of the City of Ballarat has worked with Lou Ridsdale as the founder and Director of Food is Free Inc. over the past two years. During that time Ms Ridsdale has been the driving force of the initiative which encourages people to donate and collect fresh food for free from the laneway adjoining her property. The initiative has quickly gained strong and widespread community support and as the project grew Ms Ridsdale worked with commitment and initiative to ensure the sustainability of the project into the future. By forming a committee and becoming incorporated, Ms Ridsdale has gathered a group of fellow supporters with diverse skills and set the governance procedure in place so the group has been able to apply for funding for vital infrastructure. Ms Ridsdale has excellent communication skills, has been able to promote and garner support for the Food is Free project through social media and by engaging with television, radio and print media. Ms Ridsdale also has a strong sense of community and although the project addresses a basic human right to food, it has also provided an opportunity for socialising and community strengthening. The City of Ballarat have been working with the Food is Free Inc. committee to move the site across to the nearby community hall at Western Oval. As this site is in use and leased by other community groups, Ms Ridsdale has shown great resilience by remaining positive and enthusiastic when this process has taken nearly two years to achieve.
Caroline Amirtharajah, Health and Wellbeing Planner | City of Ballarat
+ + + + + + + + +
"Munash Natural Fertilisers t/a Munash Organics is thrilled to come on board and support all facets of Food is Free Inc. Education and knowledge about where our food comes from and how it is produced is something very close to our hearts and we feel strongly aligned to the key principles and values of Food Is Free Inc. Munash Organics is pleased to offer you in kind cash donations, any materials for your garden beds and of course unlimited supply of our Certified Organic Products. We trust this relationship will continue to grow and prosper in the future and the team at Munash Organics is absolutely 100% behind you all the way."
Rebecca Djordjevic, Co-Founder & CEO | Munash Organics
+ + + + + + + + +
"The Food Is Free Laneway project is a terrific example of a highly successful community led project and has gone from strength to strength in the last few years since its inception in late 2014. Although the simple concept of sharing excess home grown produce is not new, this project has taken that concept to a new level by expanding the reach through clever social media and mainstream media coverage. Lou Ridsdale who started the Food Is Free Laneway has been tireless and positive in her approach to spreading the message, engaging community members and working with others. The project is a great example of how effective grassroots community actions can be in inspiring others to make positive and small changes that impact on health and wellbeing, food security and social connectedness. Lou's patience and perseverance has led to the project growing and to the Food Is Free Laneway becoming an incorporated group. There is now a Committee of Management and positive relationships with City of Ballarat have been established to assist with the expansion of the project to the Western Oval site. I am continually impressed with the terrific level of community engagement inspired by this project. I have also enjoyed watching the success and seeing the personal stories about the connections made, produce shared and progress made on working bees and shared on social media and via mainstream media. I have also enjoyed sharing some of my own excess produce at times of abundance! It is clear that the success has been achieved by hard work and perseverance of Lou, the committee and many community members. This is a great example of building community resilience through a project that assists towards local food security, community education with social and environmental benefits. I thoroughly endorse the efforts of the Food Is Free Laneway committee and this project. I wish them success in building on the existing strengths of the project."
Cr. Belinda Coates | City of Ballarat
