Australia has certainly had its share of hardship in recent years. From droughts to bushfires to the global health pandemic, the impact on everyone has been significant. However, it is those living in remote, rural and regional communities who have been the hardest hit.
According to Esme Borgelt, MD of Kellogg Australia, almost a quarter of Australians experiencing food insecurity live in regional or remote areas.
“The past couple of years have seen so many of our communities facing increasingly difficult times,” said Borgelt.
Tackling food insecurity at grassroots level
The Kellogg Australia Charity Foundation (KACF) has committed to donate AU$300,000 towards the FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities programme, which supports low socio-economic regions and disadvantaged communities.
The programme gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia an opportunity to access funding to strengthen their vitality and resilience. Grants are flexible and respond to community-identified priorities, such as food security.
The FRRR is the only national foundation centred on social and economic strength in remote, rural and regional Australia. This means the partnership see food insecurity challenges being tackled by community leaders on the ground.
“The aim of the KACF partnership with the FRRR is to provide support at a grassroots level to help these communities implement innovative, locally led solutions,” added Borgelt.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said the funds that will go towards grants will be awarded based on locally identified community priorities.
“The focus is on supporting food security initiatives and enterprises, food affordability and food access programmes, as well as projects such as community gardens and school and educational food programmes.
“It’s fantastic to see a leading global food manufacturer like Kellogg’s make it their overarching mission to leave a mark of meaningful difference. We are delighted to be partnering with them to ensure that support reaches vulnerable communities beyond metropolitan boundaries,” added Egleton.
In addition to the financial boost, Kellogg Australia has also put forward in-kind support in the form of food donations and volunteering from its employees.
