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Did you know that 2.2 million Australians go hungry every year and of those, half are children? These are not simply the “food insecure” (there are far more of them in Australia sadly wondering where their next meal will come from) and nor are they just living on the streets but often people living in your street.

Foodbank understand that poverty does not discriminate, with low income and single parent families more likely to seek food relief than any other group, they often have to choose between paying for food or paying their rent and bills.

Salesforce have been partnering with Foodbank for a number of years and Salesforce employees regularly volunteer to spend the day packing pallets of food to be distributed to those in need in rural and country areas of NSW at the organisation’s Wetherill Park Distribution centre for Australia’s disadvantaged.

The 1-1-1 Philanthropic model devised by founders Marc Benioff and Parker Harris means that “giving back” was baked into Salesforce’s business model from the outset - 1 per cent profit, 1 per cent time and 1 per cent equity. The contribution The Salesforce Foundation makes is important to everyone that works at Salesforce. Here is what it means to some of the Australian team volunteers:

The hardest time of the year to go hungry is of course Christmas, although it is a struggle every day. Which is why at the Salesforce Advantage Tour in Sydney, the attendees and Salesforce staff will be packing Christmas Hampers for 500 Aussie families on site, thanks to our Corporate Sponsor this year, Pardot. 

Pardot has made an incredibly generous donation of $45,000, covering the value of all of the 500 hampers we'll be packing on the day! Giving back and supporting the community has always been an essential part of Pardot’s culture, just as it is across all of Salesforce.

“Christmas is a beautiful time to cherish with your loved ones and the thought of any family struggling to have a meal that day or any day is just heartbreaking. When the team at Pardot heard about this we wanted to do something to help.” Natalie Chrara, Regional VP Sales, Pardot

The Pardot team will also be writing personal messages to the families receiving the hampers, to share with them a sense of hope and good cheer on Christmas day.

If you're attending Salesforce Advantage Tour in Sydney, there will be several breaks throughout the day where you can grab the opportunity to help Foodbank meet their target of 500 Christmas Hampers on the day. Take a few minutes to help pack a hamper with a mix of essential staples and Festive treats. You can also donate $30 for another hamper, and another. The more you work or give, the more families can enjoy a hunger-free Christmas thanks to you. It is simple, but incredibly rewarding.

The sense of fulfilment will be huge but will sustain until December when you sit down for your Christmas Lunch knowing you’ve helped provide for someone else who needs it so very much. The value of doing so is much more than just one meal.

“Providing someone with a meal does more than just fill their stomach today. It helps them and the community in which they live to achieve a brighter future. Once you deal with the issue of hunger and insecurity, it opens the door to deal with other longer term issues in a person’s life.” Gerry Andersen, CEO, Foodbank NSW & ACT

If you want to donate, please go here: www.foodbanknsw.org.au/christmashamper

Register to attend Advantage Tour in Sydney and help us pack hampers on the day here: