Three thousand seven hundred and fifty disadvantaged people will enjoy a gourmet meal prepared by the Adelaide Convention Centre after the acclaimed venue made a donation of 750 kilos of food to Foodbank SA, this month.
Butter chicken, Beef Bourguignon and Moroccan lamb were among the sixteen different types of dishes provided to the peak food-relief charity due to a surplus in catering after recent events.
"Our Executive Chef, Tze Khaw, leads a wonderful team that creates superb cuisine, and we are in a position to share this with South Australians less fortunate and help bridge the divide between those with abundance and those with nothing," Adelaide Convention Centre CEO, Alec Gilbert, said.
Awarded numerous accolades in recognition for their reduction of organic waste ending up in landfill, the Adelaide Convention Centre is one of many partners of the hunger relief organisation who source and distribute surplus food to around five hundred welfare agencies throughout South Australia, helping feed over 120,000 South Australians each year.
"Over 2200 welfare agencies rely on Foodbank nationally, to help them feed almost two million vulnerable Australians every year. They count on Foodbank to provide a reliable source of food & groceries and help stretch their limited budgets further, and generous donations such as the one made recently by the Adelaide Convention Centre -in addition to their regular support- help us help those in most need," Foodbank SA General Manager, Leigh Royans, said.
Committed to sustainability and combining Gold Service with Green Attitude, the Adelaide Convention Centre strives to be as eco-conscious as possible. The first in Australia to achieve Green Globe Silver Certification, the Centre enjoys a global reputation for its environmental excellence and innovation, awarded most recently the prestigious IMEX Gold Green Supplier Award, AIPC Innovation Award and Governor's Award for Support to Foodbank SA.
Foodbank SA has become by far the state's largest hunger-relief organisation, growing from supporting 120 registered welfare groups in 2000 to in excess of 500 welfare programs in 2010, with food warehouses located in Adelaide, Mt. Gambier and Whyalla.
"Demand for our services has risen by on average about 20 per cent a year - despite the good economic climate of recent years, poverty levels have risen and welfare groups are seeing a significant rise in the number of people seeking help. Winter is a particularly tough time when the numbers of those in need increase even more," Mr Royans explained.
Foodbank South Australia is a member of a national group of affiliated Foodbanks, which includes operations in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria - and new state Foodbanks are being finalised in Tasmania and Northern Territory.
Since this innovative partnership began in August 2008, the Adelaide Convention Centre has donated more than 2300 kilograms of chef-prepared nutritional meals and looks forward to continuing its support. To make monetary or food donations to Foodbank SA please visit the website: www.fbsa.org.au
For interviews with Adelaide Convention Centre CEO, Alec Gilbert, or Foodbank SA General Manager, Leigh Royans, please contact:
Julia Loughlin | Consultant | Professional Public Relations (PPR) | (08) 8114 6166 | julia.loughlin@ppr.com.au
