Talison Lithium comes to Foodbank’s aid

Talison Lithium has funded a replacement vehicle for Foodbank Bunbury after a crash left the hunger relief organisation without a food collection vehicle.

Talison responded to the organisation’s plea for help so that they could continue collecting food destined for landfill from local growers, retailers and supermarkets and redistribute it to people in need.

The company also signed a three year partnership to help the charity provide more food to people in need throughout the South West.

Talison Lithium general manager Greenbushes Steve Green said the Foodbank partnership was a practical way to provide support to struggling families.

“It’s a huge State and actually getting food distributed to people throughout the South West region is one way we can help,” he said.

“We are particularly proud of the connection we have with the School Breakfast Program which will help give children the right start each day to reach their full potential.”

The School Breakfast program was created in response to a growing awareness that students were going to school most days without eating breakfast, with 43 schools in the region registering for the service this year.

Foodbank Bunbury manager Carol Hearn said the truck was extremely important to their day-to-day operations.

“Basically, if we can’t get the food in, we cant get it out,” Ms Hearn said.

Ms Hearn said without the truck, volunteers had to use their own vehicles, which proved to be difficult.

“The staff pulled together but it was something we could not continue,” she said. “We are so fortunate and live in a very good part of WA because people like Talison Lithium are extremely generous.”

Last financial year Foodbank Bunbury distributed over 1.1 million meals, which is more than 3000 meals a day – a 14 per cent increase from the previous year.