Cavendish Road State High School students have been rolling up their sleeves, pilfering their pantries and doing extra trolley runs at local supermarkets for their third annual can drive to help SecondBite support the one in six Aussies living with food insecurity.

Canned foods are ideal to donate because they are easily stored and distributed without spoiling and are a great supplement to the fresh produce that SecondBite primarily provides its charity partners.

The school’s deputy principal Amanda Nuell said students were fully engaged in what has now become an annual community action campaign, and they delight in seeing the pallets of tins ready to send off to those in need.

“Last year we hit a record with 26,000 cans donated, but I think we can do better this year and our students are very much excited to break the record”, she said.

SecondBite CEO Steve Clifford said that after the tough times brought about by COVID lockdowns and the devastating flood events earlier in the year, winter 2022 has not proved any easier for many people.

“A hot meal in winter seems like such a basic right but for far too many, it’s simply not possible. Our research has highlighted that food insecurity is hitting a new demographic we haven’t previously seen before,” he said.

“Good quality, shelf stable items such as canned vegetables, soups, tuna, sauces and baked beans are in short supply at SecondBite warehouses. We can’t get enough of them, so to have the students and staff at Cav Road help out is just a blessing for us and the charity partners we support.”

The Cavendish Road State High School can drive commenced at the end of May and runs until Friday June 24. Anyone can donate by placing canned goods in donation bins at Coles Greenslopes, Carindale and Coorparoo in Brisbane, or by dropping off their donations to the school.