Meals and relief for 2000+ Frankston City residents in need

Published on 25 August 2025

More Frankston City families in crisis will soon have access to vital support, thanks to a $45,000 boost from Frankston City Council to Community Support Frankston (CSF).

The funding, part of Council’s $1.7 million Local Support Package to ease cost-of-living pressures, will enable CSF—one of Victoria’s busiest emergency relief agencies—to support around 2,000 residents with essential food, meal programs, and grocery vouchers.

For more than 55 years, CSF has provided essential relief to thousands of Frankston City residents. Its services include food parcels, grocery vouchers, medical expense support, educational assistance, housing-related items, and more.

In response to growing cost-of-living pressures, CSF will use some of the funding to partner with a local restaurant to provide free, hot, and nutritious sit-down meals in a welcoming environment. This will complement CSF’s existing on-site community meals program, run in partnership with Council’s Meals on Wheels service.

CSF welcomed Council’s contribution.

“This support is a timely and much-needed boost for our community,” said Community Support Frankston Manager, Steve Phillips.

“In the past 12 months we’ve seen a significant increase in demand, with more than 860 households accessing our services for the first time.

“The cost-of-living crisis isn’t just about food vouchers. We’re also seeing more people needing help with car-related expenses, essential medical supplies, and housing support, all of which are essential to daily life.”

The $45,000 is part of a broader $425,000 Council investment supporting 25 local relief organisations and community agencies designed to ensure vital services continue to reach residents and businesses impacted by rising living costs.

The Stronger Together 2025/26 Budget includes dozens of new initiatives while maintaining a high standard of core services. Investments like this demonstrate Council’s focus on long-term benefits through smart, community-focused funding.

Cr Michael O’Reilly said Council was responding to a clear need in and demand from the community.

“As Councillors, we’re only too aware that times are tough for many in our community and for some of them, Community Support Frankston is the difference between eating and going without,” he said.

“This new meal initiative will not only provide nutritious food, but also a supportive space where people can connect and access further assistance. It’s just one of many ways we can help Community Support Frankston step up to meet growing community demand.”

For more information on Frankston City Council’s Local Support Package visit the Council website here.

For more information about Community Support Frankston’s services, visit https://www.frankston.net/