Elsie Adamo
FOODBANK is getting a helping hand from the local MG Dealership and the Port Adelaide Football Club (PAFC).
Starting this week the local MG dealership has opened its doors to the community to drop off non-perishable items or cash donations.
The fundraiser has been organised by PAFC, who will be collecting donations at its game against Collingwood this weekend to distribute to Foodbank centres around the state.
Foodbank SA chief executive Greg Pattinson said the appeal would hopefully help to provide supplies after a large increase in demand for the charity’s services.
“More and more people are being hit by the high cost of living at the moment,” Mr Pattinson said.
“We are seeing people that have never needed food assistance before…people that have jobs, but for various reasons just cannot make ends meet.”
Foodbank Limestone Coast works directly with 130 agencies and schools in the region.
In the last 12 months, the local Foodbank has supplied more than 202,000kg of food relief from their Mount Gambier operation, enough food for 404,000 meals for those in need in need that may have otherwise gone hungry.
Mr Pattinson said the support is needed to help with the impacts of high inflation rates.
“Just as families are being hit by rising costs, so is Foodbank,” he said.
“About a third of the food we distribute we have to buy ourselves.”
Any donation made at the dealership will stay within the Limestone Coast region.
“We know that regional areas are doing it really tough,” Mr Pattinson said.
“Mount Gambier is delivering about 20 per cent more food than it did last year.”
Mike Gazzard of Carlin & Gazzard MG said it was great the business was able to help Foodbank.
“We will be encouraging all our staff and friends to support the initiative,” Mr Gazzard said.
“It was important for us that the donation would go to the local Foodbank.”
A cash donation to the organisation will also be made by the MG Motor dealership network.
The public can make donations at Carlin & Gazzard MG, 116 Commercial Street E, until the end of the month.
