The Manildra Group and MSM Milling have partnered with Rinoldi Pasta and Simplot to help those in need get a hearty meal.

Around 2600 charities receive the meals distributed by Foodbank including Foodcare Orange

It means around 652,000 Australians receive a little bit of help each month at a time when an extra 23,300 meals are needed in Orange alone.

While Foodbank operates food rescue, national supply chain manager Michael Davidson said collaboration with businesses helped the charity reach even more people.

“Pasta and pasta sauce are pantry staples in so many homes across Australia, and through this program, they are now also in the pantries of vulnerable families, students, children and the elderly,” Mr Davidson said.

“We simply would not be able to provide food relief on the scale we do, if it weren’t for generous partners like the Manildra Group and MSM Milling and their incredible generosity.”

Since 2004, flour milled by the goes to Rinoldi to make pasta, and for the eight years MSM Milling’s canola oil goes into Napoletana pasta sauce made by Leggo’s

The sugar in the sauce comes from Sunshine Sugar – a joint venture between Manildra Group and NSW Sugar Milling Co-Operative.

Manildra Group’s flour mill manager John Brunner said the program was proof of what was possible when companies worked together.

“Being a part of innovative programs like this really demonstrate what can be achieved when suppliers and food manufactures come together for the collective benefit of our community,” Mr Brunner said.

He said Manildra Group’s owners, the Honan family, were committed to helping provide staple foods to vulnerable people through Foodbank.

MSM Milling’s commercial manager Charlie Aldersey said the business was proud to be involved with Foodbank’s charitable efforts.

“Our product is such a versatile ingredient in many well-known products on the supermarket shelf so it’s a natural fit to gift oil to the program which provides hunger relief to so many people,” Mr Aldersey said.

“I’ve seen the difference Foodbank makes to everyday Australians and I find it extremely humbling to be in a position to play a part in this vital program.”