A MOBILE food hub providing free and discounted food for Riverland families in need rolled out for the first time earlier this week.
The custom-built RAA Foodbank Mobile Food Hub van, which began its tour of the state in the Riverland earlier this week, is the first of its kind to operate in regional South Australia.
Customers can be referred to the hub by local charities, schools and community groups.
Foodbank SA chief executive officer Greg Pattinson said food distributed from the mobile food hub was 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,” he said.
“We know that families living in regional South Australia are 33 per cent 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.”
RAA spokesperson Sally Warner said the Mobile Food Hub would help South Australians from diverse backgrounds, 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.
On Mondays the Mobile Food Hub will visit the Barmera Soccer Club from 10am to midday and the Loxton Sports Centre from 1.30pm-3.30pm.
On Tuesdays the mobile hub will visit the Chaffey Community Centre in Renmark from 10am to midday and the Salvation Army at Berri from 1.30pm-3.30pm.
The hub will also visit the Waikerie Football Club on alternating Wednesdays starting today from 10am-1pm.
For more information, visit www.foodbank.org.au/SA/mobilefoodhub.