Coles helps out RSPCA Toowoomba with food for animals

SUPERMARKET giant Coles is assisting the RSPCA to help rescued and injured animals by donating surplus food to the Toowoomba Animal Care Centre.

SUPERMARKET giant Coles is assisting the RSPCA to help rescued and injured animals by donating surplus unsold fruit and vegetables to the Toowoomba Animal Care Centre after COVID-19 forced the facility to temporarily shut its doors.

Coles Toowoomba Plaza, Wilsonton and Clifford Gardens have just started donating around 50 kilograms of unsold produce each week to help feed more than 120 animals at the shelter, including dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, birds and poultry.

RSPCA Toowoomba's animal care manager Cassandra Vida Ellis said the extra food donations from Coles would help keep their animals fed while easing some of the financial pressures felt during this time.

"Our animals have not been immune to the side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.

"We had to close our doors to the public early on and our volunteering activities have been severely restricted by social distancing.

"This has had a major effect on how we raise funds and provide ongoing care to our animals."

Coles regional manager Tracey Phillips said her stores were delighted to support the animals affected by COVID-19 pandemic after RSPCA Queensland reached out to Coles for support.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all creatures great and small and we were more than happy to help out when the RSPCA reached out to us," she said.

"Rather than sending this inedible and unsold produce to landfill, we've donated them to our local furry friends.

"Our stores are donating healthy and nutritious food for animals like sweet potatoes, strawberries, watermelon and leafy greens, as well as bird seed, dog and cat food."

The donations are in addition to Coles' existing program with national food rescue organisation, SecondBite, whereby surplus food is collected from Coles supermarkets and distributed to local charities, including ActsCare and Lifeline Darling Downs.

Coles is one of Australia's largest donors of fresh food, who via SecondBite, has donated enough food to create more than 700,000 meals to feed Toowoomba's needy.

Fifteen Coles supermarkets across Queensland are helping RSPCA Animal Care Centres in Wacol, Toowoomba, Gympie, Dakabin, Noosa, Mackay and Cairns overcome the COVID-19 pandemic with ongoing food donations.