Food Relief Neerim District celebrated its 2000th food pick-up from Aldi Warragul recently.
The 15-year partnership has seen the organisations distribute to more than 400 families in need across the north of Baw Baw Shire from Buln Buln to Icy Creek.
The Neerim District team has picked up food from Aldi between three and seven days a week every week. During these visits they take food that may be close to expiry, has been damaged in transit or has suffered other defects that would prevent it from being sold.
Aldi Warragul duty manager Melody Kelly said "these items are safe to consume and we don't want to see them wasted."
"They form the basis of the long term partnership between our team at Warragul and Food Relief Neerim District."
Food Relief Neerim District's Judy Gleeson said "our partnership with Aldi's Warragul team is critical to our operations" as they serve many isolated single person homes, as opposed to larger families.
"Our operation is very different to most other food relief organisations which are based in larger regional towns. Our distribution systems are more time consuming and more complex but just as vital to the individual families we support."
Paul Ford, another member of Food Relief Neerim District, said "people are really grateful" for the group's efforts.
"We do see it first hand. People are coming in for food and for other services that might help them. Food is the first stage of how the help them and there's a possibility of helping them through other agencies or applications."