REDLANDS residents can help people doing it tough this winter by supporting a Coles fundraiser for food rescue organisation SecondBite.
Shoppers can buy a $2 donation card at Coles, which provides 10 nutritious meals for people facing hard times and homelessness.
The Winter Appeal, run annually since 2011, has seen more than 131,000 meals donated by Redlands Coles supermarkets at Cleveland and Victoria Point.
Coles state general manager Jerry Farrell said the fundraising efforts in the Redlands had supported charities like the Salvation Army and Redlands Food Relief that partner with SecondBite.
"By raising funds for SecondBite through our Winter Appeal, Coles customers can help SecondBite reach even more people experiencing hardship in local communities across the state," Mr Farrell said.
SecondBite chief executive officer Jim Mullan said recent reports suggested four million Australians need some form of food relief in the past year, while five to eight million tonnes of food was wasted each year.
World renowned chef Curtis Stone and television personality Matt Preston are behind the appeal.
"It's tragic to think that so many people around Australia are facing such hard times and can't afford regular meals," Mr Stone said.
"Everyone deserves to be able to eat three meals a day and we hope that by raising funds through the Winter Appeal at Coles, we can help fill empty plates."
MasterChef Australia judge and SecondBite board member Matt Preston said that by supporting the appeal, Australians would help reduce hunger and food waste.
"Every dollar donated to SecondBite helps to provide five nutritious meals to disadvantaged Australians who go hungry every single night," Mr Preston said.
"Not only does it provide meals to those who need it most, the donation also stops delicious, healthy food going to landfill.
Coles donates surplus food for almost 800 supermarkets, reducing food waste by 40 million kilograms.
In addition to the $2 fundraising cards, Coles and Unilever have banded together to support SecondBite by donating 10 cents from every pack of Continental Sensations soup bought at Coles supermarkets during July.
