Foodbank NSW & ACT opened its new distribution centre, which is three times the size of its previous site, in Glendenning last month.
Supported with more than $6 million in funding from the NSW state Government, the new distribution centre has the capacity to triple the number of nutritious meals to 31 million annually to feed families in need across the state and marks a substantial milestone in the fight against hunger.
Funding of $5 million from the Department of Family and Community Services allowed Foodbank to purchase the land and helped build the centre.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority provided $1.1 million through its Organics Infrastructure Program, which has enabled Foodbank to increase its refrigeration capacity, allowing it to store more fruit and vegetables.
It was officially opened by David Hurley AC DSC (ret’d) governor of NSW and patron of Foodbank NSW & ACT.
Speaking at the opening, Foodbank NSW & ACT CEO Gerry Andersen said, “More than 100,000 Australians across NSW and the ACT seek emergency food relief from Foodbank each month, and it’s an unfortunate fact that we are seeing food insecurity continuing to worsen.
“The new distribution centre allows us to rescue up to 15 million kilograms of food each year that will make an immediate and significant impact to the work that Foodbank NSW & ACT does in the community.”
Foodbank is Australia’s largest food relief organisation, providing 60 million meals a year to more than 2,400 charities and 1,000 schools. Each year it distributes more than 33 million kilograms of food and groceries with a retail value of more than $200 million.
Last month the Foodbank Australia board of directors appointed Tony Froggatt as its new Chair following the retirement of Enzo Allara after 13 years at the helm.
Mr Froggatt joined the Foodbank Australia board as an independent director at the organisation’s annual general meeting in November. He is the former chief executive of Scottish and Newcastle, a global brewing company based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Prior to that he held various senior management positions in Seagram Spirits and Wine Group, Diageo, HJ Heinz and the Gillette Company.