Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Saving fresh food for our most vulnerable

Joint Media Release with:

  • Richard Wynne MP, Member for Richmond

The Australian and Victorian Governments today welcomed Woolworths’ commitment to supporting vulnerable people through its Fresh Food Rescue program.

Woolworths today announced it will provide ten new refrigerated vans for charities across Australia to transport surplus fresh food and turn it into healthy, nutritious meals.

This initiative is part of $2 million in grants from Woolworths to support food rescue organisations’ infrastructure needs.

Ms Macklin said the grants will help these organisations, which rely on volunteers and only have limited resources, to make sure healthy food gets to the people who need it most.

To date, more than 100 hunger relief organisations across the country have received Woolworths grants for items such as refrigerators, freezers and kitchen equipment.

“Woolworths has shown outstanding leadership through this program. I encourage other companies to follow Woolworths’ lead in finding innovative ways to support vulnerable Australians,” Ms Macklin said.

The Woolworths Fresh Food Rescue program complements the Australian Government’s efforts to support hunger relief organisations and the vulnerable people they help every day.

“The Government was pleased to share its expertise in administering grants programs to help Woolworths allocate their grants,” Ms Macklin said.

“We know that some Australians are doing it tough and they need extra support. Last financial year, more than 1.2 million Australians turned to community and charitable agencies for help.

“That’s why the Government is providing more than $120 million over two years to community and charitable organisations to provide emergency relief, such as food and clothes, to help people in financial crisis get back on their feet.”

Mr Wynne welcomed the three new food rescue vans that will be hitting the streets from today.

“It’s great to see important organisations, including Fareshare and SecondBite, receiving new food rescue vans. Both organisations help support vulnerable Victorians when they hit tough times,” Mr Wynne said.