Campbell Arnott donates 82,000 kg of soup

A delivery of 82,000 kilograms of Campbell’s soup will provide a nutritious meal for over half a million of Australians who need food assistance this coming winter.

Campbell Arnotts has donated the cans of soup to Foodbank, Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation. Foodbank feeds more than 60,000 people every day by acting as a conduit between major food and grocery manufacturers and retailers and 2200 welfare agencies across the country.

The delivery equates to approximately 602,874 bowls of soup and comes at a time when several social issues converge.

During winter, welfare agencies typically experience an increase in the number of individuals and families who rely on them for food, clothing, blankets and shelter.

“Many Australian families experience hardship over the winter months, and with higher rents and utility costs, people on low fixed incomes are really struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. It can be difficult to keep the home warm and have enough food on the table. We have more people through our doors in the cooler months, not only people who are homeless, but entire families in need of food parcels - tinned soup is perfect,” explains Deborah Schofield, Director of Development, Parramatta Mission.

Additionally, the impact of the rising cost of living in Australia is resulting in a growing pressure on singles, elderly, single-parent families and the working poor; consequently, there is a greater reliance on welfare organisations to ensure these groups’ basic need for food is met.

John Webster, CEO of Foodbank, comments on the donation: “Campbell Arnotts is one of our longstanding donors and this donation has arrived in time to provide those in need with a healthy and delicious meal over winter. We hope a hot cup of soup will put a smile on the faces of hungry Aussies.”

Jacqueline Chow, General Manager, Campbells, says: “We recognise the onset of winter is a time when welfare agencies are most stretched. Having partnered with Foodbank for many years, we were delighted to once again do our bit to help address hunger in our community. One bowl of Campbell’s soup typically provides at least one serve of vegetables and, in some cases, three, so each meal will be as nutritious as it is filling and delicious.”

The soup will be distributed to welfare over the winter months. In 2010, Foodbank aims to deliver 20 million kilograms of food to the hungry; and in doing so it will be a step closer to meeting the demand for food in Australia.