Nestlé Australia has announced it will donate a minimum of $2 million in products – $500,000 each fortnight – over the next two months to Australians who need it most.
Extending its partnership with Foodbank, Nestlé will extend support to communities across the country facing increasing uncertainty with the aim of supporting Australians who are most at need, including the vulnerable and elderly.
The donation will include food items such as coffee, cereals, meal bases and pet food, which will be distributed by Foodbank through its network of 2,400 charity agencies, as the food relief organisation continues to provide much needed support for Aussies facing hardship in these challenging times.
In addition to the $2 million donation, Nestlé will extend its 10-year partnership with Role Models and Leaders Australia, who run the Girls Academy, a school-based engagement program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls. Nestlé will provide essential food items to 43 at-risk remote Indigenous communities that are facing food scarcity as some are in lockdown.
Nestlé Oceania CEO, Sandra Martinez said, “An act of kindness can go a long way in these uncertain times, with even the smallest gestures having the potential to make a big difference to both individuals and broader communities.
“Now, more than ever, is a time for Australians to band together and help one another. Together with Foodbank and the Girls Academy, we are aiming to do what we can to make a positive difference and help those Australians who need it the most during these difficult times.”
Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey said, “As we find ourselves in unprecedented times as a result of coronavirus, more Australians than ever are facing a struggle to make day-to-day ends meet. Nestlé has been a long-standing partner of Foodbank and its ongoing commitment to support Australians is more important and valuable than ever.
“Foodbank has an exceptional support network of donors and supporters that help us provide food relief to more than 815,000 Aussies a month, during normal times. These are no longer normal times and our partners are rising to the call.
“Regular donations, like Nestle’s are helping to bridge the gap, but demand for food is rising at a rate never before seen and we need to do more to keep up, and this donation will make a huge difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable people and communities.”
The announcement builds on a global partnership announced yesterday between Nestlé and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies which will provide urgent help for emergency services and caregivers and strengthen healthcare systems.