SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES PUT PRESSURE ON FOOD CHARITY

WITH supplies running low due to Covid transport issues and donations dropping off, emergency food relief provider Foodbank is struggling to provide hampers to charities for vulnerable Tasmanians.

Foodbank says it will be under further pressure to provide food for school breakfast programs, and charities say more families will turn to them to put food on the table.

Foodbank Tasmania deputy chair Rob Higgins said cash donations were needed as well as donations of items used in “20-meal” 12kg hampers including rice, instant potato mash, cans of fruit, vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce.

“The majority of our food comes from Victoria and nationally, and the supply chain is under stress, and we have to purchase product and right at this point in time our monetary resources are somewhat stretched,” Mr Higgins said.

“Some agencies have wanted 50 or 100 hampers and we have had to limit them to 20 or 50 each, so it is all about demand versus the ability to supply.

“We have had to limit key pantry staples … we cannot supply what we cannot source or access.”

Mr Higgins said with school returning, a lot of household budgets were “challenged”.

“But if we can eek a few more dollars here and there we will have further opportunities to purchase locally to support local business and producers and the local economy, as was the case in 2020 and 2021.”

St Vincent de Paul Society chief executive Lara Alexander said the reduction in hampers would impact on services to vulnerable Tasmanians and cause added stress to people who were already suffering.

“Restocking our pantries directly from the supermarket rather than Foodbank means that we will be spending more and getting less,” she said.

“Unfortunately, this situation derived from supply chain issues is impacting everyone and it is especially difficult for vulnerable people.”

Salvation Army public relations manager Amelia Natoli said food orders to help with community meals could not be filled due to the increase in demand.

“With back to school fast approaching, we know that more people are going to turn to us for support and as such we may begin to find it difficult to provide for an increase in demand without the help of partners like Foodbank,” she said.