General News
29 June, 2020
Coles launches national appeal
LOCALS will get the chance to help fight hunger by supporting Coles’ new national appeal in partnership with SecondBite and deliver nutritious meals to vulnerable Australians.
LOCALS will get the chance to help fight hunger by supporting Coles’ new national appeal in partnership with SecondBite and deliver nutritious meals to vulnerable Australians.
New research released by SecondBite, a food rescue organisation has revealed that nine out of ten of their surveyed food relief charity partners had been impacted by COVID-19 and more than 80 per cent have seen an increase in demand for food relief.
$2 SecondBite donation cards are now being offered for purchase at Coles and every card purchased provides the equivalent of 10 meals to Australians in need.
Mareeba Coles Store Manager Andrew McIntosh believes that this new campaign is a great way for locals to assist those in need.
“SecondBite is a great organisation that helps people in need in our community,” he said.
“We are pleased to assist with donations on a daily and weekly basis to SecondBite so they can assist people in need.
“It’s great to know what we do with donations and fundraising goes back into our community and helps people in need.”
Coles State General Manager Jerry Farrell said that the appeal provides a way for all Queenslanders to lend a hand to those in need this winter.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened what is already an incredibly tough time for members of our community who cannot afford nutritious food for themselves and their families,” he said.
“Our store in Mareeba has played a vital role in donating meals to local charities like PCYC Mareeba since partnering with Secondbite and we only hope to increase the positive impact.
“Coles’ customers can help SecondBite and their local charity partners reach even more people experiencing hardship in local communities across the state and support them through this pandemic.”
SecondBite Board Member Matt Preston said all funds raised will go towards SecondBite’s ongoing operating expenses so it can continue to deliver food to help people in need.
“There’s never been a more important time in our history to support SecondBite as we move into an increasingly difficult economic period for millions of Australians,” he said.
“The SecondBite research shows a vast majority of our 1,100 charity partners across Australia are seeing first-hand the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable Australians.
“More than 80 per cent of surveyed charities are reporting an impact on the general health and wellbeing of vulnerable people.”
Coles has donated the equivalent of 114 million meals to disadvantaged Australia to this date and has donated grocery essentials to the retail value of $7.9 million to vulnerable Australians during COVID-19.
The campaign started on Monday, June 22 and will run until the start of next week, Coles customers can pick up a SecondBite donation card for $2 at any Coles supermarket across the country to do their part for vulnerable Australians.
