Food relief will be provided to families across Bathurst thanks to a $10,000 grant from energy provider, Jemena.
The funding will support hundreds of individuals experiencing food insecurity with SecondBite | FareShare aiming to deliver three food shipments to Bathurst, each containing 1,000 ready-to-eat meals and a pallet of rescued food.
Kingsley Lartey, SecondBite | FareShare NSW State Manager said Jemena's generous support means SecondBite | FareShare can provide urgently needed food relief for families and individuals experiencing hardship in Bathurst.
"This grant allows us to bolster local food relief with 3 pallets of nutritious FareShare meals and 3 pallets of SecondBite rescued food to be distributed by our local charity partners to those most in need," he said.
"In partnership with Jemena, we aim to support local community services, increase community wellbeing and provide a sense of dignity and care through delicious and nutritious meals and rescued food."
Now in its seventh year, Jemena's Community Grants Program has already provided about $870,000 in funding to 85 community groups. This includes $70,000 awarded earlier this year to initiatives supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
For its second round of grants in 2025, Jemena invited applications for initiatives that address disadvantage from not-for-profit organisations, schools, and charities delivering projects across Jemena's footprint. Pleasingly, this year, 16 community groups will share in over $163,000 of funding.
Craig Ypinazar, Jemena's Executive General Manager, People, Safety and Governance said the company was committed to supporting the most vulnerable in the communities in which it operates.
"Local volunteer organisations are at the heart of their communities. We can see from the type of applications we received that cost of living is still a major concerns for many in our community. These grants can go some way towards assisting those who really need it." Mr Ypinazar said.
"This year we have provided assistance to a range of different services including food programs, multicultural outreach programs, and an animal rescue that supports disadvantaged pet owners, especially those escaping domestic and family violence."
