Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Record 22,500 meals donated during BBL|10
A pledge by Sydney Thunder Official Partner, Homestar Finance, to donate 100 meals to OzHarvest for every four struck by a Thunder batsman during the recently completed KFC Big Bash League tournament has resulted in 22,500 meals for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people.
OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, meaning its staff and volunteers collect excess food from commercial outlets and deliver it to 1,500 charities across Australia – 200 of whom support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Since taking the OzHarvest Meal Pledge in BBL|08, Homestar Finance has generously donated 54,500 nutritious meals. This summer’s colossal effort comes on the back of Sydney Thunder’s batsmen hitting a total of 225 fours throughout the BBL season.
Englishman Alex Hales, who was presented with the Golden Cap as the BBL’s highest run-scorer with 543 runs, contributed to the cause by hitting a hefty 54 boundaries.
Mandy Sly, General Manager – Operations of Homestar Finance, which has provided affordable home loans to families in Australia since 2004 and was an early pioneer of the online lending market, said she and her colleagues applauded each boundary.
‘We are so delighted to be a part of the OzHarvest Meal Pledge,” she said. “We are glad that our pledge will ensure families who are suffering financial hardship due to COVID-19 and other events will enjoy nutritious meals.”
Richard Watson, OzHarvest NSW State Manager, thanked Homestar Finance for its generosity, saying it would support OzHarvest in getting quality meals to people in need.
“After such a tough year, it’s really wonderful to see communities come together to support each other and lift each other up,” he said. “This pledge helps keep our wheels turning, rescuing quality surplus food and delivering it to people in need.”
Sydney Thunder General Manager Chris Botherway said he was proud of the alliance the club has forged with OzHarvest and he appreciated Homestar Finance’s commitment to helping a valuable cause through the club.
As a Club we are passionate about making a real and meaningful difference to our communities in Western Sydney, Regional NSW and the ACT. Sydney Thunder is proud to work alongside OzHarvest to provide meals for those in need across the Thunder Nation,” said Botherway.
Photo Credit: LinkedIn profile picture of Chris Botherway
“Homestar Finance support a number of our community initiatives and we’re proud to partner with likeminded organisations who understand the importance of the work we do beyond the boundary.”
If you’d like to donate to OzHarvest, please click here. Every $1 = 2 meals.
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
