A SEASONED Tintinara farmer is urging the agricultural sector to help ensure food remains on the table for struggling South Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
David Head is rallying his peers, asking them to donate sheep to provide meat products to Foodbank SA for distribution across the state.
Each year Mr Head donates around 300kg of sausages and hamburgers to St Vincent de Paul and is now encouraging others to join the movement.
Receiving pledges of 100 sheep within half an hour of going public with his proposal, Mr Head said farmers would only need to donate one or two sheep to help feed families facing a tough circumstances.
“I did try and get the idea up and running a few years ago and hit a few road blocks along the way,” Mr Head said.
Mr Head said there would still be a cost associated with sending the livestock to abattoirs to be processed, estimating this could cost up to $9000.
“The president of the Lions Club I am a part of is happy to help and now I am trying to get all the clubs in the state to unite and pay for the food to be prepared so we can donate it,” he said.
“Foodbank are already on board with the idea and we know of a place which will do it already.”
The meat will be divided into 1kg packs of meat products – including sausages and hamburgers – before being distributed to Foodbank SA.
Mr Head said the struggles South Australian farmers had experienced over the years had influenced many to now help others.
“We have all had times where we cannot pay our bills and they understand the anxiety and depression that comes with it and I now think there is a chance for South Australian farmers to prove we need our communities and they need us,” he said.
“When things come good again all I ask is that communities support their local produce as much as they can, whether that be 100pc or even 80pc, then we can survive.
“If we can do things that make people feel good and show that we do care then we may save some people because those who do lose their job or their business often begin to blame themselves and feel as if they have failed.”
Wanting the initiative to go further than just the Tintinara region, Mr Head urged other farmers to show empathy for those in challenging situations.
“I want to show people that we are united and to help people who may feel alone at the moment by just taking a bit of that pressure off,” he said.
Contact David Head on 0427 520 064 for more information.
