FOR EVERY goal kicked by a Power player at Adelaide Oval during the 2019 season, Port Adelaide and Australian Gas Networks donated $100 to Foodbank to help provide meals to those in need.

The $11,800 raised for 118 goals kicked this season equated to 23,600 meals being provided to feed those suffering food insecurity across South Australia.

Port Adelaide supporters also dug deep during two food drives at Power home games (Round 4 vs Richmond and Round 19 vs Greater Western Sydney) to donate 1,460 kilograms of food items and $3,717 in cash to Foodbank SA.

Foodbank is Australia’s largest food relief and food rescue organisation. The 2019 Foodbank Hunger Report revealed an alarming 134,620 South Australians seek food relief every month – 30 per cent of them children.

Foodbank SA chief executive officer Greg Pattinson said the Goals to End Hunger program provides significant support to its food supplies.

“All of us at Foodbank SA feel incredibly privileged to be part of the Port Adelaide and the Australian Gas Networks family. We are constantly amazed at the generosity and community spirit of the Port members and supporters, but never surprised,” he said.

“The Goals to End Hunger campaign was the first of its kind in the AFL and has continued to provide much needed food and funds to help Foodbank SA to deliver essential foods right across the state.

Mr Pattinson explained the importance of contributions like that of the partnership between Port Adelaide and Australian Gas Networks.

“While Australia is supposedly the ‘Lucky Country’, the 2019 Foodbank Hunger Report has shown that nearly one in five South Australians experienced food insecurity at some time last year, an increase of 15% on the previous year.

“Despite Foodbank’s efforts in increasing its food distribution last year, there is still a significant shortfall in meeting demand.

“Firstly, we need another 1 million kilograms of food each year to meet this demand, and secondly, we need the resources and capability to be able to distribute the food to regions in the state where there is high demand, particularly in country and remote regions.

“Without the support from Australian Gas Networks and the Port Adelaide Football Club and its supporters, Foodbank SA would be a lot further behind”