Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has congratulated Foodbank and FareShare for joining forces for a $4.5 million charity kitchen to fight hunger and address food waste.
The FareShare Charity Kitchen, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, will use excess fresh food that was unnecessarily destined for the bin, as well as donated products from our farmers, to produce meals for people in need.
A million meals are planned in the first year, with the capacity to expand in years to come at the facility which was officially launched today by the Premier alongside local MP and Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women, Di Farmer.
"When two great charities join forces, a whole lot of good happens – as we’re seeing today," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Here, truckloads of good food will be saved from going bad and being tossed into landfill.
"It will be turned into nutritious, delicious meals instead – chilled, distributed, reheated and served."
The Palaszczuk Government is also playing its part, with almost $900,000 a year in funding to assist Foodbank Queensland's work.
In addition, more than $1 million over four years has been committed to Foodbank to further expand school breakfast programs across the state.
The government is also tackling the cost of living on multiple fronts and delivering a more connected service system to provide homeless people with a pathway into safe, affordable housing.
These measures complement the great initiative of the FareShare Charity Kitchen.
"No child should go to school hungry, no elderly person should have to go without dinner and no-one down on their luck should have to beg for a meal on the street," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"At the same time, no bin should stand on the kerbside filled to the brim with edible food which was thrown out.
"So I’m delighted to welcome FareShare to our state, and to lend my ongoing support to Foodbank, our nation’s largest food relief organisation."
Member for Bulimba Di Farmer congratulated Foodbank and FareShare on their partnership here in Queensland.
"The charity kitchen will dramatically increase the number of free ready-to-eat meals available for Queenslanders in need throughout the State," Ms Farmer said.
"These efforts are greatly appreciated, particularly as we approach Christmas.
"I look forward to volunteering my time to help out."
