Shepparton residents can turn empty drink containers into meals for those doing it tough, with a CDS Vic container drive at the Shepparton CDS Vic depot to support Foodbank Victoria on Saturday 12 September.
Victorians have donated over 51,000 meals through Foodbank Victoria, thanks to the $26,000 raised midway into the 3-month campaign. Until mid-October, CDS Vic and Foodbank Victoria have partnered to encourage people to donate their refunds to food relief. Every five eligible drink containers can help create one meal for those experiencing food insecurity.
Foodbank Victoria provides food relief with dignity and choice, suppling food to 27 schools and two charities partners in Greater Shepparton. Foodbank feeds 76,000 Victorians every day and provides more than 70 per cent of the state’s food relief. The organisation has seen demand for food relief increase by 10 per cent in the past six months, with cost-of-living pressures continuing to impact many households.
Andrew Yeoland CEO of FOOTT, which operates the Shepparton CDS Vic depot, said the Foodbank and CDS Vic ‘Your Empties, Full Tummies’ container drive provides locals a meaningful way to support those who need it most.
“We know Greater Shepparton is a community that gets behind people when they need a hand, and we’re proud to host this donation drive at our Shepparton depot,” he said.
“We see first-hand across our four CDS Vic depots just how strongly regional Victorians have embraced the scheme, and this is a great opportunity for people to use their refund to support those doing it tough.”
Matt Davis, CEO of scheme coordinator VicReturn said: “We’re proud to give people another simple way to turn their recycling into meaningful support for fellow Victorians.”
Foodbank Victoria CEO, Dave McNamara added: “With demand for food relief at a record high, simple actions like donating your 10-cent containers can create real change for the 76,000 Victorians who rely on Foodbank every single day.”
To support Foodbank Victoria’s supply of food to Greater Shepparton, return and donate your eligible containers at CDS Vic Depot Shepparton (operated by FOOTT), 10 Carroll Road, Shepparton East, Saturday 12 September, 8am-4.00pm.
The ‘Your Empties, Full Tummies’ campaign runs until mid-October and 10-cent container refunds can be donated at any CDS Vic refund point. Donations can be made by selecting Foodbank Victoria on the screen at a CDS Vic reverse vending machine, choosing the charity as a payout option in the CDS Vic app, or requesting that refunds be donated at over-the-counter refund points and depots.
The partnership builds on the success of CDS Vic, which has given almost 67.4 million containers a second life across Greater Shepparton, returning more than $6.7 million back in pockets of locals.