War on Waste launched
Image: Rosanna Barberro (Addi Rd CEO), Jo Haylen MP and Warren Roberts (Yarn), with NSW MInister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean (centre-left), at the War On Waste campaign launch. Photo: Mark Mordue
By MARK MORDUE
Last Monday morning, Addison Road Community Organisation announced the start of its WOW (War on Waste) Food! Inner West campaign. The campaign encourages local businesses to donate food and support the work Addi Road does through its ‘food rescue and food security’ supermarket, The Food Pantry.
Matt Kean, the NSW Minister for Energy and Environment, launched the WOW campaign. Cross-partisan support was made clear with the attendance of Anthony Albanese, the Member for Grayndler and the Federal ALP Leader, and Jo Haylen, State Member for Summer Hill.
Federal, State and local politicians from Inner West Council were joined by Food Pantry customers and volunteers, as well as food donors from Barilla Australia, Hilton Hotel Sydney, The Bread & Butter Project, Vanella Cheese, Maggie May Cafe, Ethical Grocer and Serendipity.
Matt Kean announced a grant of $93,000 for Addi Road buy a small vehicle and upgrade its Food Pantry’s operations, including provision for cold storage.
The Minister was effusive about what was being achieved and the possibilities of the WOW (War on Waste) Food! Inner West campaign. “What this program is all about is helping reduce food waste, which is good for our environment and good for helping people in need.”
Food insecurity a global issue
Rosanna Barbero, CEO Addison Road Community Organisation, said, ”The food justice movement is growing and reshaping how we organise ourselves. Food insecurity is a global issue – it can happen to anyone, and we see it a lot in our community. Addi Road is addressing it locally by rescuing food and diverting it from land fill onto the tables of countless local families every day.”
Addison Road Community Organisation has been a leader in providing quality food to people who need it in the Inner West since opening The Food Pantry in 2015.
“Customers have doubled over the last year to an average of 750+ individuals a week. With two thirds shopping for their families or house-holds, we estimate we are now feeding 1500-2000 people every week through The Food Pantry, associated outreach programs like our mobile food pantry, and our Hilton Hotel Sydney partnership,”Barbero concluded.
The Addison Road Community Organisation Food Pantry currently rescues 1.8 tonnes of food from landfill every week.
Information on how to donate here:
https://addiroad.org.au/wow-food-innerwest/
