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.
