More than 76 qualified chefs from ALH venues and 3,600kgs of meat and 10,000kgs of vegetables from Woolworths are now helping leading charity kitchen FareShare cook 80,000 meals per week for the growing number of vulnerable Australians in need of support.

The chefs from the Woolworths Group majority owned Endeavour Group, which includes ALH venues, stepped in to work in FareShare kitchens in Melbourne and Brisbane when the charity was forced to suspend the use of volunteer team members. 

Australia’s two largest community kitchens are normally staffed by a rolling roster of volunteers, but for health and safety reasons during the COVID-19 outbreak, FareShare had no choice but to suspend kitchen volunteer shifts and switch to a core team of paid kitchen staff.

The chefs from a number of ALH venues in Melbourne and Brisbane have been seconded into supporting FareShare after the mandatory closure of hotels due to the restrictions placed on public gatherings. The ALH team will continue to be paid by the Woolworths Group to help FareShare operate at full capacity until restrictions on hotels are lifted and volunteers can return to the kitchens.

In addition, Woolworths has donated $200,000 to FareShare to cover further operating costs and will donate $90,000 worth of food a week. This support will ensure 80,000 nutritious meals are provided to Australians in need each week. 

FareShare CEO Marcus Godhino said: “In the current crisis, Australians will be relying on our crucial services more than ever, so scaling up production of cooked meals is critical. 

“Without this support of the chefs from ALH and the ongoing supply of fresh food from Woolworths we just would not be able to continue to provide the level of support needed right now.

“We are extremely grateful to the Woolworths Group for helping keep our kitchens operating and ensuring nutritious meals can continue to be distributed to the community in this time of increased need.” 

Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said: “We have a long standing partnership with FareShare and we know how essential their services are to the vulnerable in the community, particularly right now when many Australians are living with daily uncertainty. 

“We are proud to be able to assist in keeping these kitchens operating at full capacity and to offer roles to members of our ALH team who have been impacted by the mandatory closure of hotels.  We know this is a tough time for many Aussies and we remain committed to supporting our partners and communities in any way we can through this challenging period.”