About the organisation/community group 

 The Southland Foodbank Charitable Trust was set up in 1991 to provide food parcels to families in need. 

 Initially the foodbank was only intended to operate for two years, but the need was such, it has continued to support families in need for nearly 30 years. 

In a two-day period in March of this year, 17 families contacted the foodbank seeking support. 

 Last year the foodbank distributed 1,843 food parcels. 

 It is one of two foodbank operating in the city.  The other is run by the Salvation Army. 

What the grant went towards 

 The ILT Foundation provided a grant of $20,000 towards the operational costs of the Southland Foodbank Charitable Trust.  This is an annual grant. 

 The ILT Foundation has provided about $400,000 in grants to the foodbank since records began in 1993. 

 What the grant means to the organisation/community group 

 “The ILT has been very generous for many years,” Southland Foodbank chairman Peter Swain said. 

 “We would love to close down, but we can’t [due to the increasing number of families needing food parcels].”