Cannonvale Foodbank Approaches Its First Birthday

Rebecca Woods and Marina McMullen in the early days of the Food Bank. Photo credit: Daniel Heggie

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Cannonvale Foodbank is approaching its first anniversary in September, marking a year of volunteers giving their time, food being rescued rather than wasted, donors giving what they can and community members supporting a service that has continued to grow.

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Open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday, the Foodbank has consistently averaged around 22 transactions each operating day, or approximately 110 each week. With the average transaction sitting at around $9, the figures tell an important story about how local people are using the service, combining a handful of affordable groceries with free donated food to make the household budget stretch further after rent, electricity, fuel and other essential expenses have been paid.

In its first six months alone, the foodbank reports that approximately nine tons of food was redistributed.

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The foodbank reports that past year has also highlighted how varied food insecurity can be. Users include families, pensioners, people living alone and people who are working but finding that their income simply does not stretch as far as it once did.

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“We don’t require any health or concession cards to visit, everyone is welcome,” said Executive Officer Rebecca Woods.

“We couldn’t do it without the immense support from the so many, and our volunteers who work hard bringing it all to the community,” the service shared.

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“Some give food. Some give funds. Some give two hours of their week.

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“Together, they have helped turn a temporary building and a simple idea into a service used by hundreds of local people.”

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