In December 2010, staff at Sanitarium’s Cooranbong site volunteered their time and efforts for the community, as Sanitarium produced 1.3 million serves of Weet-Bix for Foodbank, to be shared amongst more than 2,000 welfare agencies to distribute to those who need it most.

Under the leadership of Sanitarium, Foodbank was able to call upon additional key partners including Graincorp, Visy, Anzpac and Linfox to donate ingredients and services to complete the production. Support was also provided by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

“One of Sanitarium’s core philosophies is Caring for our Communities – we are enthusiastic about making a real and lasting difference by caring for, supporting and serving our communities. We are delighted to partner with Foodbank, Australia’s largest national hunger-relief organisation. The collaborative supply program put in place by Foodbank is an amazing vehicle that ensures many people in need all across Australia are able to access essential food items,” says Julie Praestiin – Sanitarium’s Corporate Communications Manager.

“We are pleased that Sanitarium can be involved in such a worthy project, and also that our people here at Cooranbong have this opportunity to contribute to the community by way of their normal workplace activity.”

On Monday afternoon 6 December a small ceremony was held at the rotunda outside the factory, involving representatives from the various companies involved in this project. They were taken on a tour of the robotics area of Cooranbong factory, guided by Cooranbong Manufacturing Manager Mathew McInnes.  All staff members at Cooranbong received a free commemorative t-shirt to mark the occasion, and as thanks for their contribution to this exciting project.

After the ceremony, Sanitarium signed a national donor agreement with Foodbank. “We’re excited about this formal acknowledgment of support as it provides us with greater certainty of receiving sought-after key staple foods. As one of our long time supporters, Sanitarium has previously provided us with food for Christmas hampers and helped with emergency relief for the Victorian bushfire victims,” says Mr Allara.

The production of Weet-Bix is part of Foodbank’s collaborative supply program, which aims to meet the deficit of essential food items, such as breakfast cereals, milk, pasta and pasta sauce, canned fruit and vegetables. Through the donation of ingredients and services and some additional funding where needed, these key items are manufactured and delivered to those in need across Australia.

There is a significant gap between the amount of staple foods donated to Foodbank and what is needed to feed those relying on hunger relief. In particular Foodbank needs more breakfast foods - in 2009 1,040,000 kilograms of breakfast cereal was needed, however only 74,534 kilograms was donated.

For more information on Foodbank, visit www.foodbank.com.au