Foodbank grant makes life easier

A state Government grant will help Foodbank Bunbury keep its food fresh for longer and reduce manual labour, according to manager Carol Hearn.

Mrs Hearn said the organisation planned to use $28,907 from the Regional Grants Scheme to buy a forklift tipping attachment and a number of fridges.

The tipping attachment will help unload heavy crates and the fridges will reduce wastage by keeping food fresh.

"We are keeping our food fresher for longer so there is not going to be as much wastage," Mrs Hearn said.

Foodbank provides more than 50 tonnes of food or about 70,000 meals across the South West each month.

The not-for-profit organisation also has a school breakfast program, which feeds 3000 children a week across 39 schools.

Mrs Hearn said demand at Foodbank had grown since she began working there five years ago.

She said Foodbank had a 46 per cent increase in customers from the 2012/13 financial year to 2013/14.

Foodbank is one of five organisations that receives funding in Bunbury as part of the Regional Grants Scheme.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the money became available as part of the Royalties for Regions program.

"The Regional Grants Scheme provides opportunities for local communities to improve and develop infrastructure and community services in regional WA," he said.