Media Alert

Immediate Release

Interview Opportunities: Foodbank WA CEO, Kate O’Hara

Lotterywest donation boosts Foodbank WA’s fresh food distribution capacity

Foodbank WA is proud to announce a generous contribution of over $500,000 from major supporter Lotterywest, enabling the purchase of two new vehicles. This vital investment will significantly enhance Foodbank WA’s ability to collect surplus fresh produce from local growers, helping to improve the nutritional wellbeing of Western Australians facing food insecurity.

The 2024 Foodbank Hunger Report revealed that 370,000 households in Western Australia experienced hunger last year. The ongoing cost-of-living pressures and housing crisis are pushing more families, individuals, and children into hardship, with many unable to access affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food.

In response to this growing need, Foodbank WA launched a new initiative in August 2024, offering free fruit and vegetables to all customers across its six branches and 50 Mobile Foodbank locations. This shift to a free fresh produce model was expected to increase demand by more than 20% over two years – a trend that is already being realised.

Thanks to Lotterywest’s support, Foodbank WA will be able to increase capacity to collect and distribute more fresh fruit and vegetables to meet this rising demand.

“Over the past year, we’ve distributed 765,000 kilograms of fruit and vegetables to customers, charity partners, and schools – representing 14% of our total food distribution,” said Foodbank WA CEO Kate O’Hara. “With our expanded supply chain and the transition to a free fresh produce model, we anticipate needing to distribute an additional 155,000 kilograms over the next two years – an increase of 20%.”

The two new vehicles represent a major upgrade to Foodbank WA’s transport fleet. They are expected to support the collection of an additional 80 to 110 tonnes of fresh produce from key growing regions in the Perth metropolitan area (Gingin) and the South West (Bunbury) to support Foodbank’s food relief services for vulnerable communities across the state.

This expansion will deliver significant cost-of-living relief to households, particularly in regional WA, where food insecurity is more prevalent. A WA Food Relief Framework Report exposed that regional residents are one-third more likely to experience food insecurity than those in metropolitan Perth, with the cost of a basic food basket up to 26% higher in remote areas.

“Our free fruit and vegetables model is a game changer for some of WA’s most vulnerable people,”

Ms O’Hara added. “With this support of Lotterywest, even more families will now be able to access the fresh produce they need to thrive.”

Lotterywest CEO Colin Smith said “Lotterywest is proud to provide a grant of more than $542,000 to Foodbank WA to help with the distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to Western Australian individuals and families from all walks of life.”

“This is another example of Lotterywest’s continued commitment to supporting organisations, like Foodbank WA, to help those who need it most in our community.”

Food assistance is available to anyone struggling to access or afford food. Call the Emergency Relief & Food Assistance Hotline on 1800 979 777, Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm.

Foodbank WA Media contact:
Moira Aynsley | Head of Strategy, Brand and Technology
moira.aynsley@foodbankwa.org.au | 08 9463 3218 | 0433 567 224

Lotterywest Media contact:
Lotterywest Public Relations
Email: publicrelations@lotterywest.wa.gov.au | Phone: 0438 996 884

About Foodbank WA

Hello, we’re Foodbank WA. We believe everyone should have access to healthy food. There are Western Australians going without every day, and we are working hard to 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 9.2 million meals last financial year to those who were doing it tough
• Distributing food and groceries through 500 frontline charities
• Providing breakfast and fruit to 560 schools feeding 25,600 children weekly
• Delivering nutrition education attendances to over 6,577 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 purpose is to Feed. Educate. Advocate.