Scotch Oakburn and Launceston Church Grammar School students to help package 30,000 meals for Tasmanians in need

Foodbank, Zambrero and two schools will join forces next week to package 30,000 meals for Tasmanians in need.

TASMANIANS in need will receive 30,000 meals with the help of almost 100 Launceston students and staff next week.

The students from Scotch Oakburn and Launceston Church Grammar School will be joined by representatives of Foodbank Tasmania and the Zambrero Mexican restaurants next Friday to package the meals

Launceston Church Grammar student Elizabeth Reeve said the joint initiative was a good opportunity to help people in need.

“I think it’s really beneficial for people like us, who are in more fortunate living circumstances, to be able to use this opportunity to give back and hopefully give them a better quality of life,” she said.

Miss Reeve said poverty was “saddening” to see in a wealthy country like Australia.

“We’re very privileged, and every opportunity we get to give back I tend to take up,” she said.

It will be the third time Zambrero and Foodbank have joined forces to run the annual packaging event, with previous events in Hobart and Devonport.

Nic Draper from Scotch Oakburn, Stuart Churton from Zambrero and Elizabeth Reeve from Launceston Church Grammar School are ready to pack 30,000 lunches next week for Tasmanians in need. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Past events involved volunteers from the public, but Zambrero director Stuart Churton said the organisations wanted to involve schools this time to “install that message of giving back to those less fortunate”.

“The rice, vegie and protein based meals get put in emergency hampers that go to families that really need it for a two to three day period,” he said.

“We come together and do this once a year, but [Foodbank] are doing it every day, helping people in need.

“To be able to give them 30,000 meals that they can distribute is something to be really proud of.”

Mr Churton said involving children in healthy eating, sustainable packaging and giving back to those in need was important.

“They’re going to be the ones who make the change going forward,” he said.

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