Foodbank has sourced a record amount of food and groceries, equating to 87.9 million meals, in 2020 to meet the higher demand for food relief.
Last year Foodbank obtained 48.8 million kilograms of food and groceries via both donations from the food and grocery sector and the purchase of key staple items.
It’s with thanks to funding from the Federal Government, corporate Australia and individuals.
“We are so grateful to our very generous donors and partners, who continue to enable us to source essential items and ensure we can quickly get them to those who need them the most,” says CEO of Foodbank Australia, Brianna Casey.
“Last year saw us face one crisis after another; off the back of a persistent drought and catastrophic Black Summer fires, we then had to reach out and ask for even more support in March when Covid-19 hit, and unemployment rates skyrocketed.”
Ms Casey further adds that in a ‘regular’ year, Foodbank provides relief to more than 815,000 Aussies every month.
“…but 2020 wasn’t a normal year and in the three months from April to July, Foodbank purchased more food and groceries than we had in the previous three years. Without our donors and partners, and the support of the Federal Government, we simply couldn’t have responded in the way we did.”
Foodbank provides food and groceries to over 2400 charities and 2500 schools.
More than 40% of all food and groceries distributed by Foodbank nationally goes to regional and rural communities.
Foodbank accepts donations of ambient, chilled, fresh food, private label products and personal and household care items.
Head to foodbank.org.au if your organisation can help Foodbank provide food and groceries to vulnerable members of the community.