The Maleny Blackall Range Lions Club held a BBQ and raffle for Lions Awareness Day in April, raising funds for Oz Harvest on the Sunshine Coast. All clubs in Zone 12 were invited to participate in raising or donating funds for Oz Harvest, to assist them in continuing their vital work helping those in need, reducing food waste and educating people to eat nutritious healthy food. Blackall Range, Beerwah and Lake Currimundi Kawana Lions rose to the challenge and, together, all four clubs raised a total of $1500, which was donated to Oz Harvest. (Photograph Maleny Blackall Range, Beerwah and Lake Currimundi Lions with Michele Lipner, Volunteer and Manager of Oz Harvest Sunshine Coast, Blackall Range Lions were unable to attend).
Oz Harvest have reported that Food waste costs the Australian economy approximately $36.6 billion per year and approximately 7.6 million tonnes of quality food finds its way to landfill on a yearly basis. In order to reduce the waste, Oz Harvest Sunshine Coast & Gympie currently partner with recipient agencies and food suppliers as far north as Gympie, down the coast into Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Food suppliers include local farmers markets, major supermarkets, BP stations, independent fruit and vegetable markets, local producers/farmers, bakeries, butchers.
With the help of volunteers, they support 45 recipient organisations including schools, charities, community organisations, programs and churches’.
Oz Harvest also has a community and education outreach program, advocating for and promoting local food security, food sustainability, healthy eating and elimination of food waste. Through their school outreach program and FEAST (Food, Education, Sustainability, Training). A cookery book, which will assist people in cooking healthy and cheap, has recently been published and will be available to community organisations, for distribution to low income families and individuals.