HELPING HANDS: (From right) Cecelia West, Siaosi Malaetasi, Karen Patten and Phillip Hanby from Ningana pick mandarins for Foodbank at the DPI.
BY DONATING a couple of hours a week for the past two months, local volunteers have helped supply tonnes of fruit to feed Australia’s underprivileged.
A group of workers from Ningana Enterprises donated a few hours each Tuesday to help pick mandarins at the Department of Primary Industries research station for the Foodbank charity.
Karen Patten from Ningana said the experience had been beneficial for all involved.
“It’s a very casual atmosphere and it’s something that’s a bit different,” Ms Patten said.
“They really enjoy it and they have loved taking a bag of mandarins back with them in the afternoon.”
Local produce manager Lou Revelant presented the group with a certificate of appreciation on Monday and said he was impressed with their work ethic.
“They were always positive and happy – that was great,” Mr Revelant said.
“Foodbank really appreciates their assistance because if it wasn’t for them, those mandarins would have gone to waste.”
All local produce donated to Foodbank is sent to Sydney for processing before it is distributed to a number of charities across the state, including many in Griffith.