Seeking Expressions of Interest to join the Shepparton Foodshare Board of Directors
Location: Mooroopna
Term: 1 year, with the option to re-nominate annually at the Annual General Meeting
Sector: Charitable Organisation
Now is an exciting time to join our community-spirited Board that is committed to leading a coordinated response to address hunger in our diverse community.
Shepparton Foodshare is seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably experienced people to be considered for appointment to its volunteer Board of Directors.
About Shepparton Foodshare:
Through collaboration, Shepparton Foodshare (SFS) provides food to individuals and families living in the Goulburn Valley and beyond that are hungry or experiencing food insecurity.
SFS was established in 2012 as a result of community need. It remains the only local food rescue agency. Foodshare’s role as a food collection, warehousing, redistribution service also relieves businesses from dealing with the agencies who formerly sought support via food/financial donations, streamlining processes for businesses who want to donate, and agencies who need food for people they support.
Shepparton Foodshare has distributed 4.4 million kilos of food, or the equivalent of 8.8 million meals, to people in need and has redirected more than 4 million kilograms of edible food entering landfill.
Around 400,000 kilograms of food is distributed annually to registered emergency relief agencies, schools, community meals programs, faith organisations and neighbourhood houses. The people supported by these agencies include individuals, families, children, homeless people and people from our multicultural community.
Shepparton Foodshare is an integral part of a state-wide network of food rescue agencies. Reciprocal food swaps and food sharing is conducted weekly to ensure a diverse supply of food.
To deliver this service, Foodshare partners with supermarkets, business and other food rescue agencies state-wide to provide nutritious food. Foodshare stores the food according to regulation guidelines to extend the shelf life of the donated/rescued food to then provide nutritious meals and prevent edible food entering the waste stream.
It operates under a model in which there is no fee for service, other than a small one-off agency registration fee. All food is provided to registered agencies on the agreement that they will provide it to those in necessitous circumstance for free. There is no potential to charge for this food as these people simply cannot pay for it!
SFS runs predominately on volunteers, with the equivalent of just 2.5 full time staff members, Foodshare is able to deliver this critical service that feeds people in need, provides a safe and coordinated environment for volunteers and directly reduces landfill.
Shepparton Foodshare has grown and evolved over the years to meet the ever-increasing demand for food relief and has recently secured significant funds to eliminate its biggest risk, accommodation security. As a result, a for purpose warehouse is currently under construction in Mooroopna and is expected to be completed in the February/March 2025.
SFS receives no guaranteed or recurrent funding and relies heavily on its own fundraising efforts, grant applications, philanthropy and community support.
Shepparton Foodshare Incorporated is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and holds DGR 1 status.
The Role of the Shepparton Foodshare Board:
The Shepparton Foodshare Board provides governance and strategic leadership to the organisation and comprises people with a wide range of skills and experience.
The Board works with the Executive Officer to achieve the goals of the strategic plan.
As a result of recent board vacancies, SFS has the opportunity to appoint two new Board Members.
Board Member positions are voluntary. SFS board’s objective is to have a skills-based and community representative Board.
We are currently seeking Board Members that are strong in governance in the not-for-profit sector, with experience and expertise in the following areas –
• Law, or
• Social Enterprise
The Board meets monthly. Meetings are generally held face to face unless this is not possible, and a zoom or teams meeting will be held.
Expectations of Board Members includes:
Attend 75% of monthly meetings and actively participate in meetings (meetings are generally up to 2 hours in duration)
Stay informed about Board matters, prepare well for meetings, and comment on minutes and reports where necessary
Serve on sub-committees (as necessary)
Attend events or meetings to represent SFS as necessary
Support fundraising initiatives
Utilise own skills, experience, knowledge and networks to support the success of SFS and to foster existing or build new necessary partnerships and relationships
For More Information:
Contact Shepparton Foodshare Executive Officer via email at executiveofficer@sheppartonfoodshare.org.au, or by phone 0410 561 934.
Submit Your Expression of Interest:
Expressions of Interest close, Thursday January 23 at 12 midnight.
Successful candidates will be formally elected at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
To submit your Expression of Interest, please forward a letter outlining your experience and outlining why ‘addressing hunger in our diverse community’ is important to you, to ATTENTION: Shepparton Foodshare Executive Officer at executiveofficer@sheppartonfoodshare.org.au
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