SA meat processor Thomas Foods International has stepped up the fight against hunger, donating one tonne of sausage meat each month to charity grocery organisation Foodbank.
Last week TFI and NSW-based Fletcher International Exports entered a partnership to expand Foodbank’s meat program – pledging to each donate 1t of mutton trim each month.
This is enough to produce about 24,000 sausages, feeding 2400 families in need.
Foodbank’s manufacturing partner Primo Smallgoods will donate manufacturing time to produce the extra sausages and Primo’s suppliers will subsidise the ingredients.
Scotts Refrigerated Transport Services will deliver the sausages to Foodbank’s distribution centres across Australia.
Foodbank national food programs manager Michael Davidson says the two family-owned meat processors have been “great supporters”.
Their generous donations will increase Foodbank's meat program three-fold.
“This is a huge benefit to us,” he said.
It will grow from 1400kg of sausages each month to more than 4300kg, equating to more than 800,000 sausages annually.
“The first items people going through tough times cut back on is perishables like meat and produce, so people miss out on much-needed sources of protein and iron,” he said.
“In SA alone, we (Foodbank) supply to 500 agencies and more than 30 per cent of it is supplied to regional areas, so this is not just about those in the cities.”
TFI chief executive officer Darren Thomas says the company is keen to be involved in a program that provides far-reaching community benefits.
“We are pleased to partner with Foodbank to help fellow Australians in need,” he said.
“As a family-owned company with strong family values, this program really struck a chord with us.
“All our staff live and work in local communities, so we want to do what we can to support others less fortunate, particularly in regional and rural areas where people are doing it tough.”
Fletcher International Exports’ Roger Fletcher says he is proud his family and staff can work with the industry and Foodbank to be part of the expansion of such a valuable program.
Mr Davidson is hoping this initiative will encourage others to get involved donating either beef, mutton or pork.
“We would love support from any part of the processing chain from farmers donating livestock to transport and processing or finished product,” he said.
“It can be a one off donation or monthly, quarterly or annually.”
Foodbank provides a tax receipt for all donations.
- Details: michael@foodbank.org.au or foodbank.org.au/meat
