Volunteers Sandra, Polly and Carol.
Camera IconVolunteers Sandra, Polly and Carol. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mandurah Foodbank help a wide range of people, some you would not expect

Rachel FennerMandurah Coastal Times

Foodbank Mandurah manager Megan Reynolds said the situation locally was not any different.

“Our clients aren’t just who you would normally assume,” she said.

“A lot of people are working, they’re parents, they’re young couples and pensioners.

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“People don’t understand that people who are working and have an income also need support.”

Assistant manager Peter Retallack said their clients would judge people who arrived at Foodbank in expensive cars.

“They see those driving flash cars and think, what do they need us for?” he said.

“But they’ve got to a point where their bills and loan repayments are more than they can afford.”

Foodbank’s annual hunger report said more than 153,000 people across WA were helped every month – 22,000 of those are children.

Foodbank currently provides food to 53,000 people across WA.

“We know 33 per cent are children,” Ms Reynolds said.

“Many families have to negotiate between paying bills and buying food.”

Mr Retallack encouraged individuals and businesses to donate.

“Our supply fluctuates dramatically,” he said.

“Some weeks people can afford to donate, other weeks they can’t.”

In WA more than three million kilograms of food were distributed in 2015, which equals 15,500 meals per day.

Ms Reynolds said people accessing food relief had to be assessed by local welfare agencies and must be experiencing financial hardship.

The most popular products at Foodbank Mandurah are tinned vegetables, tinned fish, tinned fruit and tinned soups.

Potatoes, apples and onions are always in ready supply.

Foodbank Mandurah also offer school breakfasts to 35 schools in the Peel region.