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RAA and charity Foodbank are appealing to South Australians to help end hunger in the state as more people struggle to put food on their plate.
Latest figures show demand for Foodbank meals is increasing at twice the rate of supply.
Last financial year Foodbank increased its total supply of meals by 300,000 – but the charity estimates demand for meals grew by 680,000.
This has prompted a joint week-long food and financial donation drive by RAA and Foodbank, from today September 20 to Friday, September 24.
As part of the Operation Fight Hunger drive, RAA is inviting the public to donate money or food – such as breakfast cereals, pasta, canned fruit or vegetables – at special collection bins at its 18 metropolitan and regional shops and Foodbank locations.
The RAA Foodbank Mobile Food Hub, a grocery store on wheels that provides free and discounted food, will also visit various locations, including major shopping centres, each day to receive desperately needed donations (more details below).
Foodbank SA CEO Greg Pattinson said the increase in demand for meals was largely as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Foodbank SA hit a milestone number of meals distributed for the 2020/21 year with more than 6.8 million meals distributed, an increase of 300,000 meals from the previous years,’’ he said.
“Despite our best efforts, we need to do more. An additional 7.5 million meals are needed to meet the total level of demand in South Australia.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of RAA with the RAA Foodbank Mobile Food Hub. We are seeing pockets of hunger across the state that we can now reach with the Mobile Food Hub. The Food Drive will help to fill the shelves.
“No South Australian should go hungry and we can all work together to end hunger across the state.”
RAA’s General Manager Community and Corporate Affairs Emily Perry said the state’s largest member organisation was proud to partner with Foodbank on the critical Food Drive.
“We’re hoping to collect at least 20,000 meals for people in need with our roaming RAA Foodbank Mobile Food Hub and at our shops,’’ she said.
“We’re encouraging South Australians to donate goods at their nearest RAA Shop or at the shopping centres visited by our mobile food hub.
“No matter how big or small, donations are welcome, and they can also be made online via the website www.raa.com.au/foodbank.’’
RAA’s Foodbank Mobile Food Hub travels regularly to metropolitan and regional communities to help those in need.
As part of the donation drive, the RAA Foodbank Mobile Food Hub will visit several locations to receive donations. It will visit the following locations, on the following dates, between 7:30am and 11:30am:
• Monday 20 September – Mile End, RAA member car park
• Tuesday 21 September –Mount Barker Woolworths
• Wednesday 22 September –Westfield Tea Tree Plaza car park (Woolworths’ entry)
• Thursday 23 September –Westfield Marion car park (Food Mall entry)
• Friday 24 September – Elizabeth City Centre car park