Growers send 96 tonnes of rice to hungry Aussies

Low-income Australians will soon receive 96 tonnes of rice donated by growers as part of a charitable move by SunRice, Riverina rice growers and Deniliquin Freighters.

Working with hunger relief organisation Foodbank, the companies asked growers to donate the equivalent of 1.37 million serves of rice to those in need.

Milling and packaging was offered by SunRice, and the freight costs of transporting the rice from Leeton to Melbourne was covered by Deniliquin Freighters.

Foodbank will deliver the rice to a range of frontline charities and community groups.

Foodbank CEO Jason Hincks said over two million Australians still seek food relief every year, even though the organisation provides food for over 166,000 meals a day to charities.

“Foodbank delivers about 35 per cent of its food volume to rural and regional areas, so it's wonderful to see that rice from the growers is sent back to help those in need in our regional communities,” he said.

This is the third year SunRice and Foodbank have donated rice to Foodbank, and there are plans to continue the partnership.