Bunbury Foodbank have launched a new campaign to raise awareness after it was revealed the demand for their services in the region have risen by an unprecedented 21 per cent, compared to the same time last year.
Bunbury Foodbank Branch manager Carol Hearn said it current feels like the busiest they’ve ever been.
“This week it hasn’t stopped and to be honest I don’t know when it’s going to stop,” she said.
“It’s sad, because if we’re busy, it means things aren’t good out there.
“We’ve had days where we’ve sold up to 6,000 kilograms of food, that’s the equivalent of 12,000 meals.
“Thankfully, our donors have been fantastic, we keep asking them for more and they keep giving it to us, but I’m worried there might come a time when they say, we haven’t got any more to give.”
With no sign of the tough economic times easing up soon, the organisation has launched its 365 Days a Year campaign to raise awareness of the struggle Bunbury residents are experiencing just to put food on the table.
“The growing, constant demand means we need donations of food and money all-year round, so that we can provide the volume and variety of food needed to provide a well-balanced meal for those people most in need,” she said.
“Bunbury people are compassionate, so if you can afford to dig a little deeper that would be great. And there are lots of ways people can help.
“Schools, sports clubs and work places can host food drives where people can bring in cans of non-perishable goods that get donated to us.”
Mrs Hearn said donations of tinned fish, vegetables and spreads would come in handy.
She also encouraged businesses to host a host a sausage sizzle and to donate the money raised to Foodbank.
To organise a food drive or host a sausage sizzle for Bunbury Foodbank call 9726 2362.
