Retail company helps food charity earn funds

Every week in Queensland 100,000 people rely on food relief from Foodbank Queensland, half of those being children.

It is not only the homeless or jobless who rely on this assistance – it is the working poor asking for help to feed their families that is on the rise.

For the ninth year running, Retail First has teamed up with All Purpose Transport to raise 40 tonnes of food donations, and to assist with Foodbank’s increased demand for food assistance over the Christmas season.

This year the campaign has three well known Queensland Ambassadors, Petero Civonoceva, Shane Webcke and Natalie Gruzlewski, who have assisted in spreading the word to encourage Queenslanders to donate when doing their grocery shopping. Natalie Gruzlewski said she is a proud Foodbank Ambassador and would encourage Queenslanders to donate something as small as a tin of baked beans or a jar of vegemite.

“I have seen the work that Foodbank does in the local community, and every item of food you donate into a supermarket cage goes directly to those Queenslanders who need it most,” Gruzlewski said.

From now until Christmas, collection cages are located outside every supermarket in Retail First shopping centres (list attached), encouraging customers to donate any non-perishable food items that could help feed a family in need.

All Purpose Transport will regularly collect and deliver these donations to Foodbank for their 300+ charities and welfare organisations to distribute throughout Queensland to provide help to those who need it the most. All Purpose Transport Project Manager, Belinda Polglase said that this is a really simple and inexpensive donation process with big results.

“Our driver Anthony, really enjoys his participation in the Foodbank campaign and loves seeing the generosity of the community evidenced by the tonnes and tonnes of donations he transports back to Foodbank each year.”

This industry award winning campaign has delivered more than 350 tonnes of food to Foodbank, and those in need since its inception in 2009. Foodbank Queensland’s CEO Michael Rose said that it was heartening to see larger businesses supporting the cause and he encouraged everyone to donate food at a local Retail First shopping centre.

“Please help us to reach out to those less fortunate and show them that we do care this Christmas,” Rose said.

Retail First Head of Marketing, Bec Gascoigne, said that the 40 tonne target was an ambitious goal, but ironically is the amount of food that Foodbank Queensland distributes daily.

Gascoigne said, “Given that it is now everyday families struggling to pay their bills and to put food on the table, going without is closer to home than you would think. That extra item of food goes a long way for many, and we know that the ongoing generosity of the community will be the key ingredient in being able to achieve this huge 40 tonne target.”