In the lead up to National Volunteer Week, ANZRP took the opportunity to support FareShare, as part of the organisation’s wellbeing and corporate social engagement program. The event enabled staff to help with basic food preparation tasks such as chopping vegetables, cutting meat and packing meals – whilst also taking the opportunity to learn about the valuable role organisations such as FareShare play in the community.

FareShare is a not-for-profit organisation that has been improving the lives of Australians living in hardship by cooking and distribution of free, nutritious meals that feed dignity and wellbeing. Much of this is done using donated and rescued food, and in the process diverting waste that that might otherwise have been destined for landfill. All this is supplemented by fresh fruit and vegetables grown in their own market gardens.

From July 2024 FareShare will merge with SecondBite, bringing together two of Australia’s biggest food relief agencies, which will help expand the reach of the program and enable them to provide more nutritious meals to many more people. SecondBite are also a partner of PonyUp for Good, a social enterprise with which ANZRP works closely with to collect and securely manage and recycle unwanted technology products. PonyUp for Good donate 50% of its profits to SecondBite.

ANZRP enjoyed the day and the chance to learn more about the value and importance of the work that FareShare does. A further highlight of the day was the engagement between FareShare and ANZRP’s staff, sharing details of what our respective organisations strive to achieve. ANZRP staff were able to identify opportunities for FareShare to recycle more of its waste plastics by separating materials and potentially by procuring products that are more likely to be recycled.

Visit the FareShare website for information on volunteering opportunities with them.