by Bonnie Collings

Aiming to feed those in need and encourage conversation around rough sleeping and substance abuse, a new food van venture launched at Eastern Park in Warragul last Thursday.

Organised by Warragul resident Zoltan Banyai in collaboration with JRN Community Housing, the food van set up behind Warragul Community House to provide food and drink for community members in need. A number of local businesses came together to support the event.
"I want to help my community because I love it here," Mr Banyai said. "I want to give back (to the community) and I want to bring awareness of what is actually happening, so that's why we're doing this."
As well as providing food and drinks, Peter Nous from JRN Community Housing said the food van event aimed to provide a safe place for people sleeping rough, or those with substance abuse issues to speak to people who could provide support.
"It's about bringing community together," Mr Nous said. "Together, we can fight against drug problems, we can fight against (the issue of) rough sleeping. The main cause of these (events) is to get people out, instead of isolating."
Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham attended the event, congratulating Mr Nous and Mr Banyai for their efforts and determination.
"Organisations like JRN, they're filling voids of government failure," Mr Farnham said. "I know we have a problem at the moment in Baw Baw, but also the wider Victorian community, with homelessness, drug addiction and mental health issues."
"We're coming into Christmas, so something like this that can help someone out, make their lives a little bit better, even for a few hours, is a positive thing."
"I congratulate Peter and Zoltan for organising this, it's a huge amount of effort," Mr Farnham said. "It's important it happens and it's important that conversations get started and we can try and help people."
Mr Banyai said he planned to hold more food van events in the future and continue engaging with community members in need.
To find out more about the food van, call 0414 147 738.