Inner Wheel Albany and York St IGA donate $1000 worth of groceries to Albany Foodbank

A combined $1000 worth of groceries were delivered to Foodbank Albany on Thursday courtesy of Inner Wheel and the York Street IGA.

An initial $500 donation from the Albany Inner Wheel branch was matched by an equivalent contribution of food and products from the supermarket.

Inner Wheel members Terry Iturbide, Marion Jackson and Julia Miller were helped by Scott Fewster and Steve Lionetti to fill a number of trolleys with produce and products that were then delivered to Foodbank.

Ms Miller said Inner Wheel supported a number of important organisations.

“We make a lot of donations including national and international projects, but we really do like supporting locals and Foodbank is a great organisation to support,” she said.

“There are so many people in need and the rising cost of living is impacting so many.”

She said the branch’s 25 members were keen to donate by purchasing items for Foodbank rather than just handing over the cash.

“When you see the trolleys full, you can really see what a difference you are making,” she said.

Foodbank Albany manager Rod Pfeiffer said the donation was the equivalent of “well in excess” of 600 meals.

“It’s a massive help for us because we are going through unprecedented demand and year on year we are seeing that demand go beyond our expectations,” he said.

“Inner Wheel and York Street IGA pitching in to give us this food makes a massive difference.

“That all goes straight onto shelves to feed people because there is a fast turnaround.”

He said a lot of different families had been coming in to seek assistance and new people were being helped all the time.

“It’s always unpredictable, there might be a quiet day here or there, but then the next might be double what we normally do.

“There is a lot of uncertainty about food security at the moment.”

Community members are encouraged to donate whatever they can spare to the Albany Foodbank warehouse on Cockburn Road or directly through the Foodbank website by mentioning Albany in your donation transaction.

“Actual food is always a very quick and easy one for us,” Mr Pfeiffer said.

“I always say to people, if everyone just bought one extra tin when they went shopping and donated it we wouldn’t have a food shortage problem.”