Page 2858 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 16 August 2017
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OzHarvest Canberra has been operating since 2008, collecting surplus fresh food, prepared meals and bakery items and delivering them to over 60 local charities. In a typical week they rescue between nine and 10 tonnes of food. They estimate that over the past nine years they have provided nearly two million meals to hungry Canberrans, an indication of how much hidden hunger actually exists in our territory.
Endless cost of living increases in the ACT will only lift the value of what OzHarvest Canberra does to serve the forgotten people. Beyond feeding the needy, OzHarvest also provides nutrition education to vulnerable Australians and trains disadvantaged youth so that they can earn certificates in hospitality. OzHarvest Canberra accepts food donations only from businesses, but I strongly encourage individuals to donate money and/or time.
Every dollar donated helps them deliver two meals to needy Canberrans, and volunteers are needed to assist with many related tasks. I am pleased that OzHarvest Canberra has recently been chosen by the Vikings Group, a proud member of ClubsACT, as their charity of the year. Vikings chefs cooked the delicious food that we enjoyed last week and the Vikings Group will be actively supporting OzHarvest Canberra over the next 12 months.
I am personally grateful for all that OzHarvest Canberra does. I am likewise grateful to the members and supporters of the Vikings Group who each year lend their collective support to a worthy charity. Though it is impossible to name them all, I am especially grateful to the nearly 70 other charities that use the food from OzHarvest Canberra to provide the hungry in Canberra with both life-sustaining meals and face-to-face interactions.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.35 pm.
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