Australia’s leading food rescue organisation OzHarvest last year received nearly 4,000 meals to feed the hungry thanks to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC).
The Centre’s General Manager Adrienne Readings said the donations were in line with the Centre’s aim of helping to create a sustainable food culture and stop food waste.
“Food is a valuable commodity and it’s a sad fact that people even on the Gold Coast are going hungry. If we can provide meals and sustenance to some of those families to ensure children go to school with something in their stomach then we’ve been involved in a very worthwhile cause,” she said.
“We’re acutely aware of the national target of halving food waste in Australia by 2030 and are very proud to be part of the push for change.
“Not only are we helping to provide wholesome foods but we’re helping to reduce waste going to landfills and therefore our greenhouse gas emissions.”
During 2018, the 3,876 donated meals weighed 1,261kg and included:
- 461kg of cooked meals;
- 300kg of sandwiches
- 210kg of fruit, vegetables and salad
- 200kg or desserts and pastries
- 70kg of meat
- 20kg of drinks
OzHarvest Gold Coast Manager Brenda Tripp said the need for food relief is growing, with more people experiencing food insecurity every year.
“It’s with the support of businesses such as GCCEC that we can help people within our local community who are unfortunately going without,” she said.
“The sustainable and environmentally aware approach of GCCEC is one we applaud and wholly encourage others to follow their lead.”
The Centre has supported OzHarvest since 2014. In that time, more than 14,000 meals have been donated to the needy.
The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is a world leader in sustainable practices and social responsibility initiatives, having been awarded the coveted EarthCheck Platinum Certificate for consistently performing at above best practice.
EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.