Manning Valley Cooperative Living Program (MVCLP)

Download the Manning Valley Cooperative Living Program Flyer

Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc (MVNS) has moved into a new era in the provision of emergency relief services. We are committed to ensuring that our clients are offered a holistic service which has the capacity to meet a complexity of needs other than an immediate financial crisis.

To achieve this end, we have established other avenues to support clients through the Manning Valley Cooperative Living Program (MVCLP).  The Manning Valley Cooperative Living Program aims to work holistically to assist clients who are experiencing financial crisis and/or other adversity. It is available to all people living in the Manning Valley who are experiencing financial crisis and/or other misfortune or suffering which is contributing to poverty or helplessness.

It brings together 3 different initiatives:

• Food from the Heart
• Manning Valley Community Gardens
• Emergency Relief

Food from the Heart

The MVCLP now includes Food from the Heart.  This has a number of facets including free nutritious meals for Monday lunch for community members. This is an essential part of the MVCLP. It is a resource that provides support toward self reliance for vulnerable community members in a setting which offers a free nutritious meal, advocacy, education and opportunities to commune and be involved.

It includes the Garden Kitchen initiative which also provides opportunities for community members to receive free hands on cooking classes and nutrition programs as a way of learning how to better take care of themselves and their families in an ongoing commitment to provide  an holistic approach to emergency relief service delivery.

Manning Valley Community Gardens

The Manning Valley Community Gardens are situated within easy reach of the kitchen. The gardens offer an avenue to grow food which can be used in the kitchen as well as further options for food parcels for clients. It also provides opportunities for clients and community members to be involved through volunteering and working off debts with the State Debt Recovery Office.

Emergency Relief

As part of the Manning Valley Cooperative Living Program, we also provide Emergency Relief for those exepriencing financial hardship. The type of support we can provide includes food packages, Coles’ food and fuel cards, fruit & vegetable vouchers, meat vouchers, pharmaceutical assistance, bond assistance and other as determined by assessment.