Award recognises Wiley's work with Foodbank

Wiley has been awarded the Foodbank 2016 Purple Light Bulb award for helping to illuminate the issue of hunger in Australia through its support of the Foodbank Hunger Report.

“The Hunger Report is our most important vehicle in raising awareness of the issue of food insecurity, and the contribution Wiley makes to its success is significant,” said Tony Froggatt, chair of Foodbank Australia.

Wiley, which designs, builds and maintains food manufacturing and processing facilities, has a longstanding relationship with Foodbank, providing advice and services including design, infographics, logistics and storage of donated food.

Managing director Tom Wiley said: “I believe if everyone gives a little of their time and focuses on helping the hungry in their local community by reducing food waste and getting excess food to those in need, we will each contribute to improving the lives of those in need across Australia.”

The awards recognise organisations that help to raise awareness of food insecurity, provide key staple products and build the infrastructure required to get food to where it is needed. They were presented by Senator Zed Seselja, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, at the Australian Food and Grocery Council Industry Leaders Forum, held in Parliament House on 8 November.

The annual Foodbank Hunger Report highlights the growing hunger crisis facing everyday Australians. One in six Australians has insufficient access to affordable and nutritious food, leaving over 644,000 people seeking food relief each month. A further 43,000 people are unsuccessfully seeking help each month due to demand for food relief outpacing supply. Children make up around one third of those impacted.

Foodbank is Australia’s largest food relief organisation, providing food for 166,000 meals a day to over 2400 charities for distribution to people in need of food relief.