- $1.5 million
in Cook Government funding to support food relief for vulnerable Western
Australian families
- Foodbank,
OzHarvest and Second Bite will each receive a donation of $500,000 through the
2024-25 State Budget
- The
funding will help boost the supply of nutritious food for families seeking food
relief
- Part of
the Cook Government's commitment to relieving cost of living pressures for
Western Australian families
The Cook Government has announced a funding package of $1.5 million
through the 2024-25 State Budget to provide food relief for struggling
families.
Foodbank, OzHarvest and Second Bite will each receive a $500,000 donation
from the State Government to support their operations and provide assistance to
Western Australian families impacted by the rise in cost of living.
The funding is part of the Cook Government's commitment to providing cost
of living relief, with measures including energy bill credits, free public
transport, free or reduced fee TAFE training courses and the WA Student Assistance
Payment already helping vulnerable families.
The $1.5 million funding support will go directly towards key projects
aimed at putting more food on more tables, with access to higher-quality
produce.
SecondBite will purchase
a new 13 tonne truck to significantly
expand on its collection and delivery network within a three-hour radius of its
metropolitan base, which will allow collection from a greater range of
farm gate donation partners and in turn increase the amount of food delivered
to partner charities.
OzHarvest is building on its Food Rescue operations and will continue to
work closely across its network of more than 200 partner agencies and
charities. This will ensure more fruit and vegetables are included in care
hampers, to supplement existing rescued and non-perishable produce.
Foodbank is using its donation to enhance baseline protein supplies and
close service supply-gaps by dealing directly with distributors. This will see
more meat products added to stock, while improving the nutritional quality of
services offered.
Comments attributed to Community Services Minister Sabine Winton:
"As Community Services Minister, I know the increased cost of living is
putting extra pressure on families across the State.
"These donations for SecondBite, OzHarvest and Foodbank will directly
help those organisations to better assist hundreds of families that rely on
food relief.
"We want to
make sure all families can put nourishing meals on the table and look forward
to working with SecondBite, OzHarvest and Foodbank to provide this vital
support.
"The Cook Government is
doing everything it can to assist Western Australian families doing it tough.
We will always put Western Australian families and their needs first."
