How it all began...
Established in late 2005 SecondBite began when some energetic volunteers had the simple idea of collecting food that would otherwise go to waste from their local market and distributing it to people in need.
As momentum built research was undertaken as to what already existed within the sector. The answer was that no one in Victoria was focusing 100% on food rescue. SecondBite specialises in the collection of nutritious surplus fresh food and its immediate distribution (in its raw state) to agencies and people in need.
The simplicity of this model has enabled us to be extremely flexible in our collections, thus maximising the quality of food collected and minimising waste, whilst providing a fair distribution of surplus fresh food to a variety of agencies. By remaining autonomous and impartial SecondBite ensures that for today and going forward all agencies, large (>400 meals per day) and small (<10 meals per day) get a fair ‘go’ at receiving good quality fresh nutritious food.
Many community groups and agencies provide food for a wide range of cultural groups. Providing the raw ingredients, rather than ‘ready-prepared meals’ allows each individual group the dignity of deciding what menu’s to create.
The response and results, to date, have been phenomenal.
During 2006, SecondBite volunteers collected and distributed in excess of 20 tonnes of fresh nutritious food, enough to provide approx. 80,000 meals. By the end of 2007 SecondBite collected and distributed 132 tonnes of surplus fresh food.That’s enough to provide over 264,000 hearty 500 g meals!
SecondBite believes passionately in working with other agencies and recently pioneered an agency transfer program. We co-employ a casual driver with Sacred Heart Mission and share offices with St Mary’s House of Welcome.
Every day we are approached by agencies and organisations that desperately need our help. We have been able to identify a substantial number of not-for-profit organisations that are forced to buy food, sometimes at retail prices, with generously donated funds, often at the expense of much needed programs and activities.
SecondBite’s vision, going forward, is to help bridge the gap between surplus and need; we have the tools we have the experience, we have the volunteers, our only restriction is the funding.
“There is no shortage of people in need or food to feed them, only the delivery model and the infrastructure to serve the need…"
Ian Carson (Chairman – SecondBite)
SecondBite is proud to be successfully serving as part of the solution.
|
The Board
|
|
Ian Carson – Chairman
National Chairman,
PPB Chartered Accountants
Ruth Rosh
Head of Development
Deakin University
Alister Paterson
Director
Paterson Media |
David Hisco
Managing Director
Esanda
John Simpson
General Manager
Group Corporate Affairs
National Australia Bank
Simone Carson
Director
SecondBite
Katy Barfield
Executive Director
SecondBite
Bob Glindemann
Company Director
James Stewart
Partner
Ferrier Hodgson
|
 |
| |
|
|
