Uber’s drive to help hungry Australians
It’s a food drive with a difference. As charities face unprecedented demand during the coronavirus pandemic, Uber Australia is teaming up with our Feed Appeal to deliver four million meals to people in need across Australia.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Uber Australia is joining forces with News Corp Australia’s Feed Appeal to deliver 50,000 free food hampers to struggling households across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While food charities are experiencing high demand due to job losses and economic uncertainty, many have had to drastically change or cut down their services to comply with social distancing rules.
The new partnership will help organisations dish out food where it is most needed.
Uber Australia and New Zealand general manager Dom Taylor said the 50,000 hampers would help make more than four million meals.
“The work of Feed Appeal and their partner charities has always been crucial in providing meals for struggling Australians,” he said.
“But in April alone, there has been a 50-70 per cent increase in food relief requests, with many Aussies reaching out to ask for help for the first time in their lives.”
Feed Appeal chief executive Katherine Gokavi-Whaley said Uber’s network of driver-partners would assist smaller charities to help more people.
“We have seen an increase in people reaching out for help, but due to current circumstances, it’s been hard to transfer the meals and hampers to them,” she said.
Victorian deliveries started from Reservoir Neighbourhood House late April, with the program to expand nationally next week.
Reservoir Neighbourhood House executive officer Angie Davidson said they went from receiving 500 calls for help a month to fielding 200 a day, when the coronavirus hit.
They teamed up with other Darebin neighbourhood houses and Foodbank to source supplies needed to meet demand, but their volunteers were swamped trying to deliver the food.
MORE NEWS:
HOW A CROYDON UNIVERSITY IS FEEDING STARVING STUDENTS
RELIEF AS MELBOURNE OP SHOPS START OPENING
SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS COULD WIDEN THE SOCIAL DIVIDE
“When Katherine (Gokavi-Waley) called offering Feed Appeal and Uber’s help I felt like crying,” Ms Davidson said.
“It was the blessing we never could have imagined.”
Uber driver-partners have made more than 200 deliveries so far, and a family hamper can feed two adults and two children for a week.
The crisis response builds on an ongoing partnership between Uber Eats and the Feed Appeal, which has provided more than 400,000 meals over the past four years.
The Feed Appeal supports suburban charities across Australia by boosting their capacity to store and serve food, and providing supplies of much-needed pantry essentials.
It collaborates with News Corp Australia and food rescue charity FareShare, and is powered by Newman’s Own Foundation.
You can help by donating at feedappeal.org.au