The Great Lakes Women’s Shelter’s John English said the program was making a big difference in the community.

“The initiative gives local charities a chance to go to the stores and pick up leftover foods such as bread, fruit and vegetables to use to feed the community,” John said.

“Having fresh food to cook with is a good addition to the diets of our clients. 

“We find it very helpful as the Women’s Shelter is dependent on the public and community funding and support to carry out our day to day operations. 

“It’s also a responsible initiative, as it makes valuable use of food that would otherwise go to waste.”

With as many as one in eight Australians living below the poverty line, shoppers can show their support to people doing it tough by purchasing a $2 donation card at Coles for SecondBite, a national charity which redistributes surplus fresh food to Australians in need.

For every $2 donated at Coles, SecondBite can provide the equivalent of ten nutritious meals to disadvantaged Australians.

All funds raised from Coles’ winter appeal will help SecondBite to pay for its ongoing operating expenses such as fuel, transport and refrigeration so it can deliver the food donated by Coles.

In addition to the $2 fundraising cards, Coles and Unilever have also banded together for the first time to support SecondBite by donating 1 million cups of soup.

For every pack of Continental soup purchased at Coles supermarkets between June 6 and July 3, Unilever has pledged to donate one cup of Continental soup to SecondBite until the total donations equal 1 million cups.

Across Australia, Coles has now donated the equivalent of 55 million meals to people in need since partnering with SecondBite in 2011.