WITH CHRISTMAS hovering just around the corner Southern Ports in WA has turned its attention to tackling regional hunger.
The organisation which runs the ports at Bunbury, Albany and Esperance, has a partnership with Foodbank WA which over the coming year will support the provision of 1360 meal hampers to vulnerable members of regional communities in the Great Southern, South West and Goldfields-Esperance regions.
The $25,000 partnership aims to help people living regionally who tend to be hit hardest.
Southern Ports chief people and sustainability officer Monica Birkner said Foodbank WA is critical to supporting communities all over the state.
“When cost-of-living increases hit hard, people living regionally tend to be hit hardest, which is why we are so pleased to continue our partnership with Foodbank,” Ms Birkner said.
“A key driver for everything Southern Ports does is to help create stronger regional communities, and an important part of that is helping the most vulnerable members of those communities.
“Through the first year of our partnership we were really pleased to hear just how much of a positive impact we were having, it’s only natural that we wanted to continue our support.”
Last year 370,000 Western Australian households experienced food insecurity, with many skipping meals or going whole days without food. This includes more than 120,000 children who experience hunger on a daily basis.
Foodbank WA CEO Kate O’Hara thanked Southern Ports for its ongoing commitment.
“During this cost-of-living crisis, our work is vitally important,” Ms O’Hara said.
“It is only with the help of corporate partners such as Southern Ports that we are able to continue to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially in regional areas.”
Foodbank WA’s Albany and Bunbury operations will provide hampers to the South West and Great Southern, while Foodbank WA partners with Esperance Care Services to provide hampers in the Esperance region.
Esperance Care Services Chief Executive Officer Chris Meyer said the support from Southern Ports through Foodbank was extremely welcome.
“We provide emergency relief in the form of hampers to communities beyond just Esperance – including to Norseman, Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun,” Mr Meyers said.
“Extra support for what we do significantly boosts the support our staff and volunteers can provide to those in need within our region.
“As a locally-run charity we rely on businesses in our community like Southern Ports, so we can focus on providing much-needed relief.”
Foodbank WA is the largest hunger relief charity in the state and is the pantry to the charity sector, linking surplus goods and groceries to people in need.
To find out more about Foodbank visit foodbank.org.au
Pic caption: Image Southern Ports
Southern Ports chief people and sustainability officer Monica Birkner (left) and Southern Ports regional manager – Esperance Scott Bates (right) with Esperance Care Services’ CEO Chris Meyer, emergency relief coordinator click and assistant manager Tim Currie with Foodbank WA hampers.
