MEDIA RELEASE

 

Alcoa steps up to support Foodbank WA in a new three-year partnership

People in the Kwinana, Peel and Upper South West of Western Australia struggling to put food on the table will receive more support thanks to a new partnership between Foodbank WA and Alcoa.

Under the new three-year partnership, Alcoa will provide $450,000 for Foodbank WA to increase the meals it provides across this footprint by 10 per cent year on year, reaching 640,000 by 2025.

The partnership will also play a pivotal role in expanding Foodbank WA’s mobile service in the Kwinana, Pinjarra, Dwellingup, Jarrahdale and Waroona townsites and surrounding areas.

Foodbank WA will work closely with local groups to deliver this support including the Frank Konecny Centre in Kwinana, Murray House in Pinjarra and Dwellingup, and the Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Waroona community resource centres.

Alcoa and Foodbank WA would like to thank these community organisations for the outstanding work they did in helping address local needs including food insecurity over the past two years since COVID-19 started.

Foodbank WA CEO, Kate O’Hara praised Alcoa, saying it had been a generous supporter of Foodbank WA for the past few years and this new commitment highlighted its dedication to helping local communities.

“We are incredibly thankful for the ongoing support from Alcoa,” Ms O’Hara said. “This is critical for our sustainability at the Peel branch so we can continue to bridge the gap of unmet need within the surrounding areas.

“There is a significant need for food relief in our regional towns and communities. We have seen a rise in demand for our services in the last two years. We’ve seen a lot of people put up their hand and ask for help for the first time. With the rising cost of living we know this will continue for some time.”

Foodbank WA and Alcoa first started partnered in 2020 in response to the impacts from the COVID pandemic and associated lockdowns.

Alcoa of Australia President Michael Gollschewski said the impact the rising cost of living was having on food hunger meant it was the right time to step up that support.

“The impact of the cost of living is very real and we know many people could do with a helping hand,” Mr Gollschewski said. “We are happy to partner with great organisations like Foodbank WA and other grassroots organisations to provide that help across the communities near where we operate our bauxite mines and alumina refineries in Western Australia.”

Foodbank Peel branch is on track to provide about 565,000 meals this year for vulnerable individuals, families and students within the region through 35 charity agencies and 26 schools. More support is needed to help overcome the gap of unmet need that exists.

 

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Media and interview contact: 

Moira Aynsley | Marketing and Communications Manager | moira.aynsley@foodbankwa.org.au | 08 9463 3218 | 0433 567 224

 

About Foodbank WA

Hello, we’re Foodbank WA. We believe everyone should have access to good quality food. We’re here for the everyday Western Australians who are going without. And it’s our job to help change that.

We provide food and groceries to those who struggle to afford them. We also deliver nutrition education to promote healthy eating and advocate on behalf of people that experience hunger and food insecurity.

We are here to support Western Australians in times of need. We do this through

  • Providing 6.7 million meals last financial year to those who were doing it tough
  • Distributing food and groceries through 448 frontline charities
  • Providing breakfast and fruit to 492 schools feeding 21,000 children weekly
  • Delivering education programs for over 6,200 children, adults and parents

 

We work with farmers, wholesalers, manufactures and retailers who donate and redirect surplus product to us. This also plays a vital role in tackling food waste and positively contributes to climate change by reducing CO2 emissions arising from landfill.

Our vision is to end hunger in Western Australia by 2030. Our purpose is to Feed. Educate. Advocate.