Dig deep and donate to food appeal, community urged

The Bunbury community is being urged to dig through food they may have stockpiled during the panic-buying craze of the pandemic to donate to the Rotary Club of Bunbury-Leschenault’s Give a Damn, Give a Can appeal.

The annual food appeal has previously been held as a drive-by collection which saw volunteers pick up non-perishable donations from people’s letterboxes, but COVID-19 restrictions mean this year’s drive will look a little different.

From today until October 19, community members can drop off donations to collection points at shopping centres, libraries and council offices, as well several Bunbury schools.

Project organiser Paco Tovar is encouraging people to start their spring cleaning by contributing to the food drive.

“This year the collection is being held a bit closer to Christmas, which is often when the stresses begin to add up for people,” Mr Tovar said.

“It’s open to everyone — we’re encouraging everyone to declutter their pantries and homes and to help those going through a tough time.”

The appeal has been running for the past 25 years and over that time has collected more than half a million donations, with a goal of 30,000 earmarked for this year’s collection.

Goods collected will be donated to the InTown Centre, Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul to help those in need throughout the Greater Bunbury area.

Participating councils include Bunbury, Capel, Dardanup and Harvey.