Donate extra pantry items to residents in need
Forget panic-buying – donate extra pantry items to residents in need
Clear your overflowing pantry and support residents in need this Christmas as part of Brisbane City Council’s annual Christmas Goodwill Food Drive, in partnership with Foodbank.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the global pandemic led to supermarket shelves being stripped of canned goods and encouraged residents to give back to those in need.
“If your pantry is a looking a little stuffed from panic buying, now is a chance to free yourself from guilt by donating non-perishable items to one of Brisbane’s 33 libraries and help make Christmas brighter for someone in need,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Foodbank has experienced record demand over the past year, with one-third of Queenslanders in need of food relief having never experienced hunger before the pandemic.
“Usually, our annual appeal to residents to raid their pantries is aided by the promise of waiving overdue library fees, but with library fees now waived, we made sure to continue this incredibly important initiative.
“Last Christmas a record 48,000 cans of food, equating to 21 tonnes, were donated which helped Foodbank provide almost 39,000 meals to people in need across Brisbane.
“This year I’m calling on Brisbane residents to dig deep and work together and smash last year’s record and help put a meal on the table of those doing it tough these Christmas holidays.”
Foodbank Queensland CEO Sara Harrup said they are relying on community support now, more than ever, to get food to those who need it most.
“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are seeing the highest demand for food relief in our 25-year history, with one third of hungry Queenslanders having never experienced hunger before the pandemic,” Ms Harrup said.
“This year, we’re asking the community for donations of rice, pasta, baked beans and canned spaghetti, as these food types are the most versatile staples that are also very useful for people experiencing hunger.
“Each year, Foodbank Queensland rescues and sources more than 14 million kilograms of food and groceries from farmers, manufacturers and retailers that is distributed through a network of 250 Queensland charities to feed more than 200,000 people in crisis each month.”
Cr Schrinner said while overdue fees have been waived, the libraries would still love to see overdue books returned.
“We usually have thousands of long-lost books returned each year during the December library amnesty, and we would love those books returned and back in the collection for other residents to borrow and read,” he said.
To make a food donation, visit your local library between 1 to 31 December 2020. For library locations, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au