COVID 19 CONTINUES TO IMPACT STREAT
Back in March, the Covid crisis forced us to close 5 of our 8 cafes, reduce staff numbers significantly, cut back heavily the hours of the remaining team and scale down our bakery, roastery and catering operations. We've now also closed our Melbourne Central café, due to the Stage 4 lockdown.
Unfortunately, we don't expect any improvement in this situation until next year. And it's tough times for everyone, not just STREAT.
However, we've still been supporting young people, albeit more remotely than usual, and our beautiful Cromwell Street and Parkville cafés are open for take-aways. We're also doing home delivery of delicious meals, fresh bread, coffee and groceries and our kitchens have cooked thousands of meals for vulnerable Victorians.
As ever, we are wrapping our arms around those in our community who desperately need help.
But now, STREAT itself desperately needs your support.
Your Box of Family Goodness
One of the best ways to support STREAT during this crisis, is to order a 'Box of Family Goodness', and share it with your family.
Doing this, just once each month until Christmas, will help us survive.
We could also deliver a box to your parents, children or someone else stuck at home – a heart-warming gift for those you love. These monthly acts of goodness, this generous sharing of food with your family, will help sustain STREAT, our staff and our young people – our family.
Please click the 'Order Now' button above and order Your Box of Family Goodness.
MOVING FEAST - OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSE
Many of Melbourne's other wonderful Social Enterprises are also struggling to survive. In addition, it is estimated an extra 250,000 emergency meals may be needed each week in Victoria - due to the Pandemic.
In April, a large group of Social Enterprises started responding to these challenges and formed the Moving Feast collective - STREAT is a founding member. We're working together, making and delivering nutritious and culturally appropriate meals to many thousands of vulnerable Victorians – even growing produce for those meals.
This work, with large amounts of support funding, will also help save our own organisations. Post the crisis, we’ll continue to work together to recover and rejuvenate the food system and help make families more resilient through growing food at home.
Moving Feast has already planted 760,000 seeds and made and delivered 120,000 meals and food packages! And there is so much more to do. You can be part of this collective response - details are on the:
Thanks so much for your on-going care and support. We will survive, but it's going to be tough for a while longer.
Above all, please take care of yourself and your family and stay connected.