Hunger relief in Sunbury

(L-R) Chris Tevace, Peter Cacchione, Andrew Lalor and Melissa Gascoyne at Woolworths Sunbury are ready for your donations. (Damjan Janevski) 305966_01

Leading up to Christmas, Woolworths in Sunbury, Rosenthal and Kyneton have organised community food drives for those experiencing hardship.

Until November 15, customers in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items into the Local Community Food Drive trolley located in stores.

Rosenthal and Sunbury Woolworths Victoria state manager, Sarah Gooding said the company’s food rescue efforts not only supported vulnerable people, but provided residents an opportunity to understand the country’s “hunger problem”.

“We’re asking Sunbury and Macedon Ranges customers who are in a position to do so, to join us in donating to the Woolworths Local Community Food Drive on their next grocery shop, by simply adding non-perishable items to our trolleys,” Ms Gooding said.

“By making a small donation, you will be helping the wellbeing of our local community, providing them with the essentials they need.”

Accepted items include breakfast cereals; pasta, rice and instance noodles; canned fish or meat; spreads and baked beans and spaghetti

The 2022 Foodbank Hunger Report revealed two million households in the country ran out of food in the last year due to financial strain – that meant 1.3 million kids lived in food insecure homes during that time.

According to Foodbank, more than 365,000 children in Victoria lived in severely food insecure households in the past year, and 276,000 Victorian households receive assistance from food relief organisations.

Working closely with local food charities, the Woolworths stores will ensure residents in need receive the donated items – along with fresh food to the value of $250 in time for the festive season.