Following its launch into Adelaide last year – ironically held at the National Wine Centre, the venue is proud to announce they have become an Oz Harvest donor.

Oz Harvest, founded in Sydney in 2004 is a non-denominational charity collecting excess food – that would otherwise be discarded and dumped as landfill – for distribution to charities supporting the disadvantaged and vulnerable. Following expansion from NSW into ACT, SA is the third state or territory to partake in the programme.

Obviously following strict regulatory guidelines, excess food from the National Wine Centre is collected and distributed to other charities by Oz Harvest at no cost to either party. They currently distribute more than 180,000 meals per month in NSW, ACT and SA helping out charities serving the likes of:

• children and youth at risk who may have been abused or have nowhere else to go
• single parents with no support
• older men and women who have trouble making ends meet
• those who are homeless
• marginalised indigenous men, women and children
• refugees looking for a better life
• those who are going through drug and alcohol rehabilitation
• women who are escaping domestic violence; and
• families with low incomes who need help to get by

“We had some internal processes to apply to ensure leftover food was no longer discarded but kept and packaged in a manner that met regulations to ensure it is safe for further distribution,” said National Wine Centre general manager Adrian Emeny. “Now we’re thrilled that we have this opportunity to assist people in our community who may otherwise go without a decent meal. Oz Harvest came to our attention when they held their launch at the National Wine Centre – we felt they were offering a fabulous and worthwhile service and the rest is history” he said.

As the Function Venue of the Year, Wedding Venue of the Year and Caterer of the Year as awarded at the 2010 SA Restaurant and Catering Awards, The National Wine Centre is consistently booked for functions and events . In addition they operate their Concourse Cafe for brunch and lunch daily resulting in a regular supply of great quality food to assist Oz Harvest.