Foodbank SA will receive $2 million from the South Australian government over the next four years to deliver more food to people doing it tough.
Key points:
- Foodbank SA is struggling with the rising costs of food, the same as everyone else
- The South Australian budget has allocated $4 million to food relief over the next four years
- $6.5 million from the budget has been allocated to the school breakfast program
Like everyone, Foodbank is struggling to source food due to increasing costs of living.
Foodbank SA chief executive Greg Pattinson said the money would help substantially.
“While we’ve seen an increase in demand,we’re also having to combat the additional costs we’re incurring,” Mr Pattinson said.
“So things like freight to get the food into South Australia and the costs of food we’re having to purchase.
“All the things that families are struggling with, Foodbank is also incurring those same additional costs.”
With the funding, Foodbank will be able to continue to deliver the same amount of products, particularly key staple foods.
“The state government is prepared to invest in us and recognise that Foodbank is the safety net for the community,” he said.
“If we don’t operate then there’s nobody else in regional South Australia to provide food assistance at the scale that we do.”
An investment of $6.5 million for the school breakfast program will deliver an extra million meals, and Foodbank will receive half that to make sure students are eating breakfast.
“Particularly in some of those remote and regional parts of South Australia, and we’ll be able to get to them more regularly and provide those essential foods that kids need,” Mr Pattinson said.
Workers also doing it tough
Andrew Head is a roadhouse operator in Kooniba in the state’s north-west and is feeling the brunt of the cost increase of groceries.
He said his usual fortnightly shop would cost around $250, but said it had gone up to around $350.
“Since then I’ve become more aware of what I have to buy and what I don’t really need,” Mr Head said.
“[If] whatever I’m getting is on special, I’ll get two of them instead of one.
“I’m checking how much I’m saving now as well as how much I’m spending.
“I stick with the essentials now and just buy almonds for snacks to fill me up during the day so I’m not eating a lot at night.
“I’m trying to keep the cost around to the $300 mark.”
The closest Foodbank to Mr Head is in Ceduna, 40 kilometres away.
Even though Mr Head is struggling with food costs, he said he felt too guilty to get food from Foodbank because he was employed.
“I could consider going there, it’s not below me. But I don’t want to take away food from other people who do need it,” he said.