THE ROTARY Club of Airlie Beach has donated a month’s rent to the Whitsunday Foodbank and is challenging others to do the same.
Last month, Rotary Club of Airlie Beach members gathered at the Whitsunday Foodbank shop, in Proserpine, to present a donation of $2,000 to Foodbank operator Jeff Boyle.
The club took the opportunity to make the presentation while the Rotary District Governor Sabaratnam (Prath) Prathapan, from Darwin, was in the area for his official visit to Whitsundays’ Rotary Clubs.
The Whitsunday Foodbank Proserpine is community owned and funded and staffed by volunteers.
It provides good quality food at affordable prices, with the aim of ensuring no one in the community goes hungry.
People who are pension, concession and healthcare card holders are eligible to access the service, which receives no government funding.
Foodbank operators Jeff and Judy Boyle, from Whitsunday Funerals and Crematorium, cover the costs of running the foodbank, including rent of about $2,000 per month and the purchase of most of the food.
The Rotary Club of Airlie Beach is issuing a challenge to other local service clubs, organisations and businesses to ‘come on board’ and contribute towards the Foodbank’s rental costs, whether for one week, a fortnight or a month!
“It would only take 11 other organisations or businesses paying a month’s rent, to cover the rent for a whole year,” a spokesperson said.
Club president Jan Clifford proposed the idea when she became aware of the costs involved in providing the service for needy people in the Whitsundays.
“I have been a long-time supporter of the Proserpine Foodbank and I encourage its use. It provides very affordable food to those doing it tough and we all know that times are tough,” she said.
“It would be great if other clubs kicked in to help this valuable service.”
The Boyle’s family business operates the Whitsunday Foodbank, as well as the Mackay Foodbank.
“We have been fortunate in businesses we’ve owned and now we can give a little back, and with the generosity of groups like Rotary it puts a smile on people’s faces,” Jeff said.
“Rotary donating one month’s rent is wonderful; it allows us to get the staples that we have trouble getting.”
To take up the challenge, call Jeff Boyle on 0439 730 790 to arrange your donation.
