Hellenic Initiative Australia is doubling its support for the Farmers' Market Program with an AU$71,000 grant, enabling "Boroume" to increase the number of market collections in Athens and expand the program into Thessaloniki.
The produce collected at markets supports more than 14 Greek charities and welfare organisations, including soup- kitchens, municipal social services, hospices for people with disabilities and organisations assisting refugees. In 2017 only, Boroume saved 73.5 tonnes of fresh produce from markets in Athens, which was directly donated to local charities.
“We are delighted to be supporting the Farmers' Market Program for a second year,” said The Hellenic Initiative Australia President Nicholas Pappas.
"Boroume" team of volunteers in Greece Source: Supplied/Boroume/Nikos Karanikolas
“This is The Hellenic Initiative Australia’s largest grant to date and reflects the strong partnership we have forged with Boroume, supporting its innovative food saving programs over the past three years,” Mr Pappas said.
Boroume founding member, Alexander Theodoridis, welcomed the continued support from Australia. “We are delighted that The Hellenic Initiative Australia has, for the third consecutive year, decided to support our organisation and will be doubling up its efforts to support the farmers' market program," Mr Theodoridis said.
The grant also builds on THI’s Australian Volunteering Program, which last year provided additional volunteers from Australia to assist with delivery of the Farmers’ Market Program. More than 160 volunteers have assisted Boroume with collections at markets to date this year and more will be required as the program scales up.
“Our Australian connection is really important to us, not only for the financial support that we receive as an organisation, but because of all the Greek Australian volunteers that have helped us enormously with the farmers’ market program, especially during the summer months. We look forward to welcoming more volunteers from Australia in 2018,” said Mr Theodoridis.
More than 35 Australians volunteered with Boroume last year and The Hellenic Initiative Australia is calling for more volunteers to participate in Athens and Thessaloniki in 2018.
