Local Supermarket Donates $20 Thousand Worth Of Food For Change

A local supermarket has donated over $20 thousand worth of food to the Proserpine St Vincent de Paul’s and the Whitsunday Foodbank in the past six months.

Peries IGA Proserpine has been quietly passing on the goods to the local non-for-profits since November 2022 in a partnership through ‘Food For Change’.

A national charity, Food For Change partners with IGA across the country, growing and “rescuing” nutritious food to support Food Relief Organisations who feed hungry Australians. Rescuing being the act of sending food which would normally be thrown away by stores - though it is still entirely safe and edible - to welfare organisations.

Peries IGA Proserpine Manager Keiryn Stacpoole said, through Food For Change, the local supermarket had donated $20,825 to the two local organisations.

“It’s a commitment on our end to one, not have any landfill, and two, to help people who need it,” he said.

“Not everyone can afford things and to have $20 thousand in food that hasn’t gone into the rubbish and is feeding those who are less fortunate, that’s a wonderful feeling.”

Proserpine St Vincent de Paul’s volunteer Elsie Magee said IGA had reached out to her directly to donate the food which is now a major contributor to Vinnies’ welfare operations.

“We’re so grateful that something like this is happening in Proserpine,” she said.

“That is a considerable amount of money that is now helping to support the community who need it, and I cannot thank IGA enough, as well as all those who make Vinnies what it is.”

St Vincent de Paul’s Proserpine had previously been accepting supplies for welfare from Townsville, with non-perishables and perishables being shipped down as part of regular activities – Ms Magee said that was almost no longer the case.

“I’ve told them that we don’t need so much to be sent down here now, and it can stay up there to help people in Townsville,” she said.

“What IGA gives us is more than enough. It’s been excellent to have that backing, and the service itself [welfare] is becoming more popular over time. With the cost-of-living crisis, it’s necessary.”

Whitsunday Foodbank – which moved into a new location on Proserpine’s Main Street earlier this year – expressed how ecstatic they were to be receiving the ongoing donations alongside their regular Foodbank Queensland supply.

“We have such an amazing community,” a Whitsunday Foodbank Proserpine spokesperson said.

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Proserpine St Vincent de Paul’s volunteer Elsie Magee and Peries IGA Proserpine Manager Keiryn Stacpoole