Melbourne Airport has teamed up with the state’s largest food relief organisation to help support Victorians in need.

The airport has signed a two-year, $100,000 partnership with Foodbank Victoria that will help the charity continue its important work supplying nutritious food to people facing difficulty.

Demand for Foodbank’s services has surged in the wake of Covid-19, cost of living increases and recent floods, with the organisation now providing help to 100,000 Victorians every two days.

As part of the agreement, airport employees will be volunteering a day’s paid work to help pack orders in Foodbank Victoria’s Yarraville warehouse or distributing food to communities.

Melbourne Airport will also be encouraging travellers and the airport community to dig deep with advertising and QR codes in the terminals to facilitate donations. Just $50 will create 100 meals to feed families facing difficulties.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said that as Victoria’s main hub for the import and export of fresh produce, partnering with Foodbank was a natural choice.

“We know some people are facing significant challenges and we want to ensure that no one in our state is going hungry or worrying about how to feed their family,” she said. “We recognise the role we play in supporting our local community, and our team is looking forward to rolling up their sleeves to help make a difference.”

Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara welcomed Melbourne Airport’s support for the charity’s work.

“Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and help from partners such as Melbourne Airport, we are able to distribute more than 10 million kilograms of food every year,” he said. “The impact of recent natural disasters coupled with the effects of the pandemic and inflation mean more people than ever are looking to Foodbank for help.”

You can donate at https://foodbank-victoria.giveeasy.org/melbourne-airport-retailers