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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Yellow Van up for social justice award

CANBERRA’S “Yellow Van” is one of five finalists for a $10,000 community service award for its work feeding disadvantaged people.

yv_launch_invite_1Run by Communities@Work, The Yellow Van distributes leftover food from restaurants, caterers and supermarkets to more than 80 charities. The service estimates the food – which would otherwise be wasted – adds up to 2000 meals a day, or around 20 tonnes a month.

The Yellow Van has been nominated in the Social Impact category of the 2013 HESTA Community Sector Awards, which recognises an “outstanding contribution to social justice in Australia”.

According to the director of The Yellow Van, David Burnet, the average Canberra household throws out $1,000 of food per year.

“We believe this food shouldn’t go to waste when there are hungry mouths to feed,” Mr Burnet said in a statement.

The vans have provided food for domestic violence refuges, disability support services, homeless shelters, youth centres, refugee programs and school breakfast programs over the five years it has operated.

The Yellow Van was run under the OzHarvest name from 2008 until July last year.

“This service is the only operation of its kind in Canberra that delivers fresh food in refrigerated vans on the same day it is rescued, so that food ends up in the hands of people who need it, rather than in the bin,” Mr Burnet said.

“We specifically seek out fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, whole grains and meat products, so the charities can provide nutritious meals to their clients. It also allows the charities to redirect funding to other areas of their operations, like life skills programs and training for youth.”

The winners will be announced during the Australian Council of Social Service National Conference next Monday, March 25.

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