The Vinnies Soup Van - August 2026
The Vinnies soup van recently had a big problem solved, operating out of the Vinnies welfare building in Traralgon, the soup van had difficulty storing frozen and fresh produce due to limited fridge and freezer capacity. Through the generosity of renewable energy engineering and construction company, Zenviron (which is engaged to deliver the Wooreen Energy Storage System adjacent to the Jeeralang gas fired power station at Hazelwood North), with the assistance of one of our volunteers, a Zenviron employee donated an industrial fridge and freezer to the Vinnie’s Traralgon soup van, enabling the soup van to provide a better service to its Tuesday Traralgon and Wednesday Churchill van runs. The donation has made a big impact in delivering a better service to those we serve. We thank Zenviron for the support they have given the soup van but also to those in our community who need our service.
The Vinnie’s Soup van is now doing its van run in Churchill every Wednesday night. Recently, along with the normal soup, sandwiches and yoghurts, pizza was given firstly to the children then to the adults. The pizzas are provided by a popular pizza place free of charge once per month, and proved to be very popular on the night. Along with pizza, hot sausages will be provided once per month and pies for the children are also back.
The number of families attending is increasing which puts a strain on the volunteers going out each night, so new volunteers are very welcome.
Our volunteers help in preparing and packaging food, each week they make sandwiches, delicious soups, pick up bread, fruit and other food products from suppliers, they assist with loading the soup van, distributing food on a soup van run as well as assisting in unloading the van and cleaning the kitchen and vehicles.
The need for volunteers has never been greater, so if you have some time to give volunteering with Vinnies soup van is a rewarding experience, and you can be sure you are making a difference in peoples’ lives. On the soup van we help anyone in need, regardless of their background, culture, religion or political opinion, it is about giving back to your community to those in need and from all walks of life. The soup van volunteering community is very welcoming, it is friendly and fun at the same time, but you must be over 18 to volunteer.
For more details Contact
- Soup Van Co Ordinator Bill Hurenkamp on 0418 327 287
- Team leader Felicetta Kile on 0421 950 661