In fact, a 1kg bag of the food staple can make up to eight meals.
But while it’s cheap, nutritious and versatile, it’s something that Shepparton Foodshare struggles to source without a regular rice donor or through its regular food rescues.
The service is asking the community to support its current Great Rice Drive, as it aims to collect enough rice to provide 25,000 meals to locals who need them most.
Until Saturday, May 31, donors are urged to drop off unopened rice at registered locations across Greater Shepparton. (A list of donation points is at the end of this article.)
The response to the campaign so far has been pleasing.
“Those registered to support our rice drive are getting creative with their promotions, displays, and some are holding raffles or their own fundraisers so they can raise funds to purchase rice to donate to Shepparton Foodshare,” Shepparton Foodshare chair Jeremy Rensford said.
“The provision of food relief for our community remains at the core of our focus and at the heart of our decision-making. We will continue to work hard to keep up with this increasing demand in our region, and the Great Rice Drive is just another way of doing that.”
A 1kg bag of rice costs less than $2, but can make a big difference to people’s lives.
The registered rice donation points across Greater Shepparton are: Bunnings Warehouse, Cardamone Real Estate, Dookie Primary School, GAME Traffic & Contracting, Grahamvale Primary School, Greater Shepparton City Council, Kialla Golf Club, Mooroopna Park Primary School, Mooroopna Primary School / Our Place/ Mooroopna Children and Families Centre, Powles Kitchen Co., Shepparton East Primary School, Shepparton Foodshare, Shepparton Swans Football Netball Club, Shepparton Southern Cross Austereo, Shepparton SPC Factory Sales, Watters Electrical and Woolworths Shepparton.
To find out more about the rice drive, visit Foodshare’s website at www.sheppartonfoodshare.org.au
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