Mobile Food Hub hits the road to reduce hunger in regional SA

A grocery store on wheels providing free and discounted food is supporting regional SA to help families in need.

The roving Mobile Food Hub, supported by the state’s largest mobility organisation RAA, will be the first of its kind to operate in regional South Australia.

Customers are referred to the hub by local charities, schools and community groups.

They shop as they would in a normal grocery store, passing through a checkout counter at the rear of the medium sized truck. Bread, fruit and vegetables are free, and charities also provide the customers with vouchers to purchase a range of other heavily discounted food items.

Foodbank SA CEO Greg Pattinson said the food is sourced from Foodbank’s warehouses or donations from retailers, farmers and the food industry.

“Foodbank has long needed to have a food hub presence in the Riverland and other regions of South Australia. However, the distance between towns means it wasn’t feasible for families to have to travel to access food relief from a single Food Hub.

We know that families living in regional South Australia are 33% more likely to experience food insecurity than those living in metro SA. We know there are families in towns from Berri, Renmark, Loxton and Waikerie that are going without.

“The Mobile Food Hub for the Riverland will be a source of food relief for thousands of families who are experiencing hunger in regions.

“We cannot thank RAA enough for supporting this Mobile Food Hub, that will really hep us feed those in need.”

RAA is supporting Foodbank to purchase, custom fit, stock and resource its second Mobile Food Hub which carries 2 tonnes of stock.

Under the strategic direction of Foodbank, and in collaboration with welfare agencies, at-risk areas in SA will be identified and visited over the next two years at least.

RAA spokesperson Sally Warner said the Mobile Food Hub will help South Australians from diverse backgrounds and services, including those still recovering from the effects of floods, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This service will assist people and families in need of food relief, who currently have little or no access to welfare services,’’ she said.

“RAA has served the community since 1903 and this is an extension of our commitment to helping South Australians dealing with adversity.”

Visit www.foodbank.org.au/RAA

For further information contact:

Foodbank SA Media: Sarah Davies 0432 511 091 or sarahd@foodbanksa.org.au

About Foodbank

Foodbank is the largest food relief organisation in South Australia. Our mission is to end hunger. At Foodbank SA, we provide food relief to over 126,000 struggling South Australians every month. One third of those are children. Foodbank SA sources food from wholesalers, manufacturers, supermarkets and growers, saving more than 2.5 million kilograms of food from landfill each year. In the last 12 months, we have sourced enough food to put more than 6 million meals on the table of those doing it tough in this state.

In South Australia, Foodbank is the pantry for the charity sector, providing more than 70% of the food relief requirements. We work with more than 495 charity organisations and supports more than 500 school programs to distribute food relief across the state. We do this through our warehouses in Edwardstown, Whyalla, Berri, Mount Gambier and our operations in the SA Produce Market. Foodbank SA also distributes food direct to those in need through our Foodbank Food Hubs operating in Edwardstown, Bowden, Christies Beach, Elizabeth, Mount Gambier, Whyalla and support community food hubs in Port Pirie and Adelaide.

About RAA

RAA has come a long way since being founded by a small group of motoring pioneers in 1903. Today, more than 750,000 members choose RAA to deliver them peace of mind, through a trusted range of motor, home and travel products and services.

Members are at the heart of everything RAA does, so it’s always looking for new ways to better their lives and make it easy to focus on what really matters. As one of the state’s largest and oldest organisations, RAA is proud to help keep its members – and SA – moving in the right direction.