Australians donate $1.5 million to 2020 Feed Appeal
Hungry battlers will receive 3 million meals thanks to generous Australians, who have donated $1.5 million to the 2020 Feed Appeal.
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Generous Australians have donated $1.5 million to the 2020 Feed Appeal, providing the equivalent of 3 million meals to those in need.
More than $883,000 of that donation was from supermarket giant Woolworths and their customers, with big-hearted shoppers digging deep to support the appeal at the checkout.
The money will be handed out in grants to grassroots food relief organisations across the country to help them buy ovens, freezers, cool rooms, transport and other vital infrastructure to help them store, cook and share more meals with the most vulnerable in their communities.
Feed Appeal chief executive Katherine Gokavi-Whaley said she was overwhelmed by the support of Australians to help others in these challenging times.
“Seeing Australians backing other Australians is so heartwarming,” Ms Gokavi-Whaley said.
“We are witnessing new people asking for food relief for the first time in their lives this year and we know money raised through the Feed Appeal will help to support these vulnerable people including the newly and long-term unemployed, international students, the homeless, domestic violence victims and other Aussies struggling amid the pandemic.”
Ms Gokavi-Whaley said a 50 per cent increase in the need for food relief this year after bushfires, drought and coronavirus meant the grants would help deliver nutritious meals to more people than ever.
YOU CAN HELP COMMUNITIES ACROSS VICTORIA BY DONATING TO THE FEED VICTORIA APPEAL
Woolworths kick started their support of Feed Appeal in stores in July with a donation of $100,000.
“Australians continue to prove that in times of hardship, we come together and support one another,” Woolworths chief marketing officer Andrew Hicks said.
“As COVID-19 continues to impact the community, it’s heartening to see the generosity of our customers will help provide millions of meals to those experiencing hunger.
“On behalf of Woolworths, I’d like to sincerely thank our customers who contributed and proved a little bit goes a long way.”
Feed Appeal was founded in 2009 by national food charity FareShare and News Corp Australia after noticing charities wanting to feed more people were unable to scale up their operations due to lack of infrastructure or funding.
FareShare chief executive Marcus Godinho said the grants help address these issues.
“Volunteers work tirelessly to support people who have fallen on hard times – even through challenging times like this pandemic. After 10 years of awarding Feed Appeal grants, we know how much they help local charities help people doing it tough,” Mr Godinho said.
News Corp Australia community ambassador Penny Fowler praised Australian donors for their generosity.
“During these tough times, it is more important than ever to help and it is wonderful to see that so many Australians will dig deep to assist others,” Mrs Fowler said.
“As a company we are proud to have supported the Feed Appeal’s mission to feed Australia for more than 10 years and we thank everyone who has donated.
“Together we can make a difference.”
Successful 2020 grant applicants for each state and territory will be announced in October.
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