Funding Boost for Foodbank Australia

Not for Profit hunger-relief organisation Food Bank Australia, which supplies 2,500 community organisations with food and grocery supplies, has received a $4 million funding boost from the federal government.

The $4 million funding over four years is part of an $83.3 million funding boost for emergency relief services announced in the 2011-12 Budget,

The funds are in addition to the $2.24 million provided by the government to Foodbank Australia during the Global Financial Crisis.

Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins says the funding will allow Foodbank to secure food and grocery supplies for distribution to community organisations.

Collins says for every $1 invested by the Gillard Government, Foodbank works with businesses to manufacture $7 worth of food.

She says Foodbank works collaboratively with food producers, manufacturers and suppliers to provide a more consistent, cost-effective supply to emergency relief organisations.

Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia with distribution centres in seven states and territories, which last year provided 19 million tonnes of food and groceries to emergency relief providers.