The Collingwood Football Club is pleased to announce the launch of the Magpie Meals Food Van today.
The colourful van is an extension of Collingwood’s Magpie Meals program that will be seen across the streets of Melbourne.
In February last year, the Magpie Meals program was established as a partnership between the Club and the Meals with Impact social enterprise that seeks to provide employment opportunities for women of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The program employs women to cook culturally appropriate meals for vulnerable communities across Melbourne and is a result of the lockdowns of the public housing estates in 2020 and 2021, which created a requirement for more culturally appropriate food relief for families in these homes.
The Magpie Meals Food Van is made possible by funding from the Collingwood Foundation. This aligns with the Club’s commitment to promote an inclusive environment for all by supporting programs which empower communities and increase connection and belonging.
The van has further commercialised the Magpie Meals program with its meals available for purchase at various events and locations around Melbourne. It also creates further employment opportunities for women who are wanting to get involved with the program.
Each week Magpie Meals provides hundreds of meals which are delivered to different local government areas.
Meals with Impact People and Culture Manager Nikki Blanch said the Magpie Meals Food Van will better service consumers across the city.
“We are thrilled to reveal the Magpie Meals Food Van which will work to better connect the business with local communities who benefit from our food relief services,” Blanch said.
“The funding from the Collingwood Foundation will greatly assist the operational activity of the Magpie Meals program.
“We thank the Club for their continual support with Magpie Meals and allowing us to have a greater impact with our work throughout 2023.”
Collingwood Head of Foundation Mardi McMillan acknowledges the significance between the Foundation and Magpie Meals partnership.
“The partnership between Meals with Impact and Collingwood’s Foundation is an incredibly important and exists to provide culturally appropriate meals to people facing food insecurity”, McMillan said.
“Purchasing this van enables greater connection to communities across Melbourne as we are able to deliver meals firsthand to those in need.
“Having the ability to use the van at events across the city creates greater exposure for the program and awareness for the great work these women are achieving.”
The Magpie Meals Food Van will make its first appearance at the City of Melbourne Lord Mayor’s Iftar dinner next Monday, as well as Collingwood’s Reclink Football season launch next Wednesday, March 29 at Victoria Park.
