Andrea Fraser, who works for an employment agency and volunteers at Community House, addressed the topic of Foodbank at a recent meeting of the Charlton Women in Agriculture and Business group.
Foodbank works with food producers, manufacturers and storekeepers with the aim of reducing food waste and providing access to edible food for those who are struggling to provide for their families.
It is a national organisation, while a smaller, local service known as Second Bite also works in this space.
Most of the products on their shelves have been donated.
Foodbank Port Lincoln is now situated at Community House on Conrad Street, and is open for business on Fridays.
It is currently used by 100 to 150 people each week.
Andrea reminded the group that Australia produces enough food for everyone three times over and that 7.6 million tons of food is wasted each year – most of it edible – so there are many benefits in reducing what would otherwise go to landfill.
Clients are being assisted by churches and other charities that provide counsel, and if they meet certain criteria, are given a food voucher they can take to Foodbank.
They can collect staples like breakfast cereals, breads, rice, tea and coffee, sugar and long-life milk, plus meats, fruit and vegetables free of charge.
If people do not have a voucher, they are still able to access food by purchasing it at a reduced price.
As lots of the wasted food occurs in our homes, there were lots of questions and comments from group members.
They lamented the lack of knowledge about choosing food wisely, basic meal planning and preparation skills and the safe storage of food.
There was a question about what has happened to learning in the home, or at domestic science/home economics in schools?
The skill to make a meal out of what is available and how to use leftovers, plus budgeting, seems to be lacking.
Terms like ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ on packaged foods are also a big part of the problem as they contribute to the waste of eligible food, meaning more education is needed.
It proved to be an interesting evening.
