Supré Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Australian retailer Supré, has donated over $120,000 for charity partners Foodbank, Vinnies and Beyond Blue.
Since launching the three new partnerships in July, customers have helped raise donations through product purchased and sold from the Supré Foundation range.
Within eight weeks of fundraising, Supré Foundation products saw a +10% YoY growth in proceeds, despite reduced customer traffic in shopping centres and stores in Victoria closed for half of the fundraising period to date.
The product range was expanded to include a collection of face masks and hand sanitisers to reflect everyday essential items for the current COVID-19 environment.
Supré GM Jodie Bongetti (pictured) said the foundation will extend its partnership with Foodbank, Vinnies and Beyond Blue until the end of 2020, with the aim to help support more Australians through economic and wellbeing pressures of the pandemic.
“Supré Foundation is so proud to be standing side by side with Foodbank, Vinnies and Beyond Blue to help create awareness and raise vital funds to support the thousands of Australian women and girls who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We feel extremely grateful to our Supré community, it has been a demonstration of what can be achieved when women support women. It is only because of our customers and every purchase they make from our Supré Foundation range, that enables us to make a difference for women and girls who need it most."
According to Beyond Blue, one in three women are likely to experience anxiety in their lifetime and many people across Australia are experiencing isolation, stress, anxiety, financial pressure, job loss and grief over lost loved ones as a result of the pandemic.
Each month since March, calls to the Beyond Blue Support Service have increased between 40% to 60% when compared to the same time last year.
Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman praised the work of the Foundation.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health and wellbeing of many Australians, some for the first time.
"Every dollar we receive from the Supré Foundation will go to the Beyond Blue Support Service, which is staffed by skilled mental health professionals who are ready to provide free counselling, advice and referrals 24/7 to everyone in Australia.”
Foodbank has also revealed that women are 50% more likely to be affected by food insecurity than men, with more women unable to afford costs to feed themselves or their children due to increased financial burdens affecting many in this current climate.
In the past three to four months, Foodbank Australia has purchased more key staple foods than in the three years prior to COVID-19, with the Supré community contributing to 80,000 meal donations for Foodbank through every dollar raised providing two meals to those in need.
Foodbank CEO Brianna Casey said generous support from brands is vital.
“One in five Australians have experienced food insecurity at some point in the last 12 months and this number is unfortunately on the rise given the current environment.
"The generous support from brands, such as Supré Foundation, will assist vulnerable Australians who require essential food relief, especially women who are more likely to be food insecure."
In addition, Vinnies Women’s Refuge provides home visitation and crisis accommodation support for women and children escaping domestic abuse due to increased social and physical isolation during this time.
Vinnies Services executive director Niamh Mannion said the money raised to date has provided woman and children access and support within over 150 shelters.
“The rise in domestic violence cases has been a real concern over the past few months, especially with working from home conditions putting vulnerable women and children at higher risk.
"We’re pleased to have the support of the Supré Foundation so we can ensure people are safe during this turbulent time."