Foodbank SA in Mount Gambier has received a generous $10,000 in sponsorship funding from Van Schaik’s Bio Gro for use towards its Meal Pack Program.

The nutritious and affordable packs include ingredients and a recipe, which teaches skills to cook basic meals.

The Bio Gro Meal Pack Program offered in the Limestone Coast is part of the wider Foodbank Meal Pack program supported state-wide by Australian Gas Networks.

It is the second year Bio Gro has sponsored the meal packs and Bio Gro managing director Stephen Van Schaik said he planned to continue sponsoring the program each year.

Mr Van Schaik said Foodbank was a great initiative and Bio Gro staff volunteer at Foodbank each month to package the meal packs and help out with other tasks.

“We are very proud as a family-owned business to be able to support Foodbank with some labour as well,” Mr Van Schaik said.

The Bio Gro staff also organised a food drive for Foodbank last year, which Mr Van Schaik said they would likely do again mid-year.

“Our staff are very keen to be able to support Foodbank,” he said.

Foodbank Limestone Coast Branch Manager Lynne Neshoda said the funding allowed the charity to keep the meal packs affordable for families in need in the region who accessed the food hub.

The funding is also used to buy personal products, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant.

“It is great to have a local family business’s support, because we are all local, helping people in our community who are struggling to put food on the table, the demand for help is ever growing in our region,” Ms Neshoda said.

“What Bio Gro gives to Foodbank is fabulous, we really, really appreciate it and we love their support.

“We should remember, while businesses support us locally we need to support them as well.”