FOOD on the table is something many in Leeton shire may take for granted, but one company is doing its part to reduce the impact of "food insecurity".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
SunRice and Riverina rice growers have again partnered with hunger relief organisation Foodbank to ensure people in need don't go without.
In the 2019 financial year, donations of Riverina rice as well as products from SunRice's specialty foods business Riviana, contributed to putting more than 400,000 meals on the tables of Australians in need.
SunRice global operations and agribusiness manager Tom Howard said while it had been a tough year for the region's growers, they still wanted to help.
"With more than four million Australians experiencing uncertainty around where their next meal is coming from," he said.
"It is a privilege to be able to help.
MORE NEWS
"Riverina growers donated almost 150 tonnes of rice, or 2.5 million serves of rice in the 2019 financial year, which was achieved despite another tough year for growing rice in the Riverina due to low water availability and high water prices. "
In addition, Riviana donated 72 tonnes of product, which equated to over 129,000 meals.
Almost 1400 tonnes of Riverina rice and 300 tonnes of Riviana products have been donated since the partnership with Foodbank began in 2013.
This equates to 28 million serves of Riverina rice and almost 550,000 meals of Riviana products.
Employees also volunteer to help pack grocery items into boxes for distribution to Foodbank's charity partners, including the Salvation Army, Moira Foodshare, Quang Minh Temple, Sacred Heart Mission and Hope City Mission.
"Last month, a team of eight enthusiastic volunteers from our Victorian operations participated in Foodbank's Pick Pack Food Order program," Mr Howard said.
"They packed a whopping 8812 kilograms of food orders, equivalent to approximately 15,878 meals for the community.
"Broken down even further, this is the equivalent of feeding a family of four, three meals a day for 1323 days or 3.6 years.
"Alarmingly, more than 40 per cent of Foodbank's volume of much needed food and grocery products is distributed to rural and regional communities all over the country.
"We should all be really proud of this partnership and its important function to help our societies and communities."
****
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox every Friday at 6am from The Irrigator. To make sure you're up to date with all news in Leeton sign up here.