As the city has been doubly hit by bushfires and the pandemic, staying employed was not evident and the number of less fortunate people without easy access to meals increased. A combined solution for these issues, at least partly, came from Adelaide Venue Management (AVM)—operators of the Adelaide Convention Centre (pictured), Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Coopers Stadium and AVMCatering.
In an effort to address the rising demand for the services of the community catering organisations in South Australia, AVM is adapting its facilities for a different purpose. The company’s commercial kitchens at the Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Entertainment Centre are now set up to make healthy and nutritious meals for organisations including Meals on Wheels SA and Multiple Birth South Australia, giving them the opportunity to continue providing meals to those in need, always in accordance with current vulnerable persons guidelines.
“Across our venues, we have access to some of the biggest kitchens in the State, along with a highly trained team who are at the ready to assist South Australians in important ways. We are reaching out to various companies and community groups where we have identified a possible need to see if we can lend them a hand in these challenging times,” comments Anthony Kirchner, Chief Executive Officer, AVM.
From this month, AVM will provide up to 18,000 three-course meals each week to help with the high demand due to Covid-19. Foodbank SA, a supporting partner in this community initiative, will use their refrigerated vehicles to collect meals from AVM and transport them to Meals on Wheels SA’s main distribution points.
This article was written by Boardroom editor Vicky Koffa. The right to use, in parts or in full, has to be granted by the Publisher.
“In the past two weeks we’ve seen a 250 per cent increase in new customer registrations and South Australians are registering every day as the full impacts of COVID-19 take hold. This partnership also allows us to deliver more frozen meals, and fewer hot meals, to reduce the frequency of home visits in the interests of public health and safety,” says Meals on Wheels SA chief executive officer Sharyn Broer.
On top of community support, the initiative gives the opportunity to about 60 AVM employees to full-time engagement, thus avoiding unemployment. “Not only is Adelaide Venue Management contributing tens of thousands of meals to the community at this time, their innovation is enabling dozens of staff to remain in jobs – and that’s great news,” said Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink.