Food relief drive aims for seven million Christmas meals

Laura Glendinning from OzHarvest with Allycia Schwartz from Woolworths for the OzHarvest Christmas Token Appeal. 14th October 2021. Photograph Dallas Kilponen/Woolworths

Woolworths Umina and Woy Woy are part of an ambitious donation target to raise the equivalent of seven million meals this Christmas, to help support charity partner OzHarvest meet the growing demand for food relief across NSW.

According to the 2021 Foodbank Hunger report, one in six Australian adults are now considered severely food insecure and more than half of the people impacted by food insecurity go a full day each week without eating.

To mark the seventh annual Christmas Appeal with OzHarvest, Woolworths is aiming to join in achieving a record fundraising amount of $3.5M which is the equivalent of seven million meals.

Local Woolworths customers can now purchase a 50-cent token when they shop in store or online which will help provide the equivalent of a meal to those in need of food relief across the country.

Customers can also choose to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, with proceeds going directly to the Christmas Appeal.

Woolworths Umina and Woy Woy Group Manager, Tim Burr, said the supermarket giant was grateful for the generosity of customers to help those in need.

“For most Woy Woy Peninsula residents, Christmas is a joyful time, but for those not knowing how they are putting food on the table, the holiday period can be an extra stressful time,” Burr said.

“Woolworths Umina and Woolworths Woy Woy is committed to caring for the Woy Woy Peninsula community and we are proud of what we’ve been able to achieve to date with our long-standing food relief partner OzHarvest.

“A little bit can go a long way to help feed a person or family and we encourage anyone who can give back to purchase a token or round up their purchase to the nearest dollar the next time they shop with us.”

Woolworths has committed to a donation of $500,000 to kick off the appeal and from November 24, 50 cents will be donated from every limited edition OzHarvest Santa Cookie sold in-store.

More information about the fundraising campaign can be found at woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/community/ozharvest

Source:
Media release, Nov 11
Woolworths