Coronavirus: International students food bank funded for three months
Overseas students trapped in Cairns during the coronavirus pandemic have been given a $50,000 lifeline to stay fed.
Cairns
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OVERSEAS students trapped in Cairns during the coronavirus pandemic have been given a $50,000 lifeline to stay fed.
Study Queensland has arranged the money to keep a food program run by Study Cairns going for a further three months.
Study Cairns manager Gaby Thomasz said the money would pay for “well over” 400 meals per week for 12 weeks.
“We have been running a food bank for the students and this money will allow us to buy more groceries and keep cooking for them,” Ms Thomasz said.
The meals have been prepared by volunteers and student chefs. The organisation has partnered with local cafes and restaurants, using commercial kitchens that have been forced to close due to restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Adventure Cairns and Beyond owner Erryn “Ezzy” Wells said the team had already prepared “about 5000 meals” for unemployed international visitors to the region.
“I have one message for international students who are living rough in Cairns – we’re going to help you,” State Member for Cairns Michael Healy said. “I’ve heard some horrible stories about students in our region who are struggling to find food every day.”
“If my child was every learning while overseas and this type of thing happened, I’d like to think they’d be looked after with the basics”.
It is understood that Study Queensland will continue to monitor the welfare of international students in Cairns in case further food funding is needed.
Originally published as Coronavirus: International students food bank funded for three months