Foodbank WA hits 50 million kilogram milestone!

Western Australia’s largest food relief organisation Foodbank WA today celebrates its 25^th anniversary and announced it has distributed a staggering 50 million kilograms of food in its 25^th year – which is equivalent to almost 100 million meals.

For the past 25 years, Foodbank WA has been committed to helping people in need by rescuing surplus and donated food and delivering nutrition education programs throughout the state.

To mark this monumental milestone, the organisation officially launched its historical book, The Giving Pantry at its 25^th anniversary event, the book details the rich history of Foodbank and Hunger Relief in Western Australia.

Written by talented local author Ken Spillman, the book thoughtfully captures the many pivotal moments in history that have culminated in the organisation’s success today.

Foodbank WA chief executive officer Greg Hebble said the book is an excellent way to acknowledge the anniversary and pay tribute to the many contributors past and present.

“Foodbank WA has achieved incredible things and helped hundreds of thousands of West Australians in our first 25 years and that is certainly something that we are all very proud of,” Mr Hebble said.

“I’d like to express our deepest gratitude to all of the good people and businesses who have volunteered their time or donated goods and services to help make a difference.

“While it’s wonderful to reflect on the past, we remain very focused on the future and achieving our vision of ending hunger in Western Australia by 2030.

“This year’s Foodbank Hunger Report revealed over five million Australians have experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, and it’s clear this problem isn’t going away.

“Having provided 50 million kilograms of food to people in need is a fantastic achievement, but our state has a long way to go and a lot of work to do to achieve zero hunger.”

Today, Foodbank WA provides over six million meals a year through a network of 414 charities state wide. It also runs the state’s largest School Breakfast Program across 480 schools, feeding more than 20,000 kids every week and delivers a wide range of nutrition education programs designed to improve food security for people of all ages.

Foodbank’s work also plays a direct role in delivering on a number of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including ending hunger and halving food waste by 2030.

There are so many wonderful stories in The Giving Pantry, which highlight the passion and generosity of many who have contributed to the rich history of this organisation. Including major supporters The State Government of Western Australia, Lotterywest, Healthway, BHP and Perth Airport.

While Foodbank WA continues to work with the entire food and grocery industry to source donated and surplus product for those in need, demand continues to outstrip supply. The

not-for-profit is seeking 1.25 million dollars in funding to assist with additional food purchasing to meet the need.

Download a copy of the The Giving Pantry here.