Foodbank is Australia’s largest food relief charity to more than a million people each month.
A recent report by Foodbank Australia revealed one in six Australian adults haven’t had enough to eat in the last year, while 1.2 million children have gone hungry during the same period.
Foodbank Australia CEO Brianna Casey said the visit was to recognise and thank Uncle Tobys and the regional community for their ongoing support.
“Foodbank partners with Uncle Tobys to make sure we can get essential breakfast cereal products to people in need across Australia and Uncle Tobys has been extraordinarily generous to us,” Ms Casey said.
“Each and every year they make a commitment to donate one million serves of breakfast cereal. That for us, is not only extremely needed with the cost-of-living pressures at the moment, but it’s a recognition of the role of regional Australia plays when it comes to fighting hunger.
“We know that food insecurity isn’t just a city problem, it’s in the regions too, and so by visiting the country, we are not only able to thank the Uncle Tobys team but also talk to the communities about what’s going on, why food insecurity is happening, and how Foodbank can better support the charities we work with to get essential products to these communities.
“We are bracing for further demand in food relief in light of ongoing cost of living pressures. This is as much an income crisis as it is a cost-of-living crisis. We know that people on low income and fixed income experience cost of living pressures earlier, harder and for longer than others.
“We are working really hard with a network of almost 3000 frontline charities across Australia, including the larger Albury-Wodonga region.”
Last year, Uncle Tobys donated the equivalent of 143,600 meals to Foodbank, or 1,992,000 serves of cereal.
This year, Uncle Tobys has already donated the equivalent of 104,200 meals to Foodbank.
Uncle Tobys Wahgunyah factory manager Jean Carlo de Lima said he was proud to partner with Foodbank Australia.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and we want to help ensure that all Aussies start their day with a wholesome and delicious meal,” he said.
“We are passionate about supporting the community and we’re delighted that last year Uncle Tobys provided almost 2 million serves of cereal to those in need.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Foodbank to help all Aussies to start the day right with a nutritious breakfast.”