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Foodbank SA is experiencing more demand than ever, including from home owners struggling to cover rising interest rates.
Key points:
- Foodbank SA provides free food for families across South Australia
- Home owners and people with jobs are among those accessing its services
- The state government is funding Foodbank's school breakfast program
The charity provides free food for people in need, saving a large amount of it from going to waste.
Foodbank SA chief executive Greg Pattinson said all of the organisation's food hubs had experienced record demand over the past three months, including those in regional areas.
"Indeed, the Mount Gambier Food Hub on Cave Road is, in fact, almost double what it was at this time last year in terms of number of people coming along to get food," Mr Pattinson said.
With interest rates increasing again yesterday, Mr Pattinson said Foodbank was experiencing demand from a wider group than before.
"Historically, people say it's the unemployed people or it's the homeless people — it's not, it's no longer that," he said.
"Over 50 per cent of the people that are now seeking food assistance in South Australia have jobs and over 30-something per cent have mortgages, so it is very much cost of living focused."
Foodbank is considering moving to new, larger, more accessible premises in Mount Gambier as families in the South East experience increased rental and mortgage stress.
The Mount Gambier Food Hub operates by referrals in an industrial area in the western part of the city.
"We would love to talk to the Mount Gambier council about relocation and setting up more of a retail thing in a more populated area so that people have a much easier way of getting to our services," Mr Pattinson said.
Funding for school breakfasts
The state government announced on Monday it would be providing $6.5 million in funding for the school breakfast programs run by Foodbank as well as KickStart for Kids ahead of next week's state budget.
It will result in more than 1.4 million meals being provided over the next four years.
"By providing free breakfast at targeted schools throughout the state, it makes a big difference," Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
Schools with a breakfast program will continue to have one, but the initiative will also be expanded with priority on those facing the greatest disadvantage.
The number of days some school breakfast programs run may also be increased.
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