Amidst all of the tragedy of the fires around Australia, including on Kangaroo Island, Michael, David and Paul Crawford felt very humbled when they received this email from Leigh Royans, Foodbank SA Founder. The email shared a special message and photo of a Hino truck, which the CMV Group Foundation donated to Foodbank SA back in 2001 through CMI Hino Adelaide, delivering vital supplies to the Emergency Relief Centre in Kingscote. 

We are extremely proud to support the efforts of all the amazing volunteers, emergency crews and organisations, such as Foodbank SA, through the CMV Group Foundation, and more recently the CMV Group Staff Foundation. Plus, we have been proud to see many of our businesses also support their communities where possible.

“Hello Karen, Michael, David, Paul, David, Jonathan,

I hope you & your families/staff/businesses are all OK, realising your company has connections spread widely across SA and other states. I feel a little numb with sadness as I’m sure so many do, but my family are fortunately all safe and therefore easy to throw energies behind helping as best we can.

I wanted to share this photo below to you all. The photo shows our 8 pallet refrigerated rigid Hino you helped me procure back in 2001, in our 2nd year of Foodbank ops’ here in SA. 

The truck has been flat-out since we were activated by the State Emergency Management Team to respond in December, running pre-packed emergency food hampers, fresh fruit & veg and other groceries to initially Mt Barker & Highbury Fire Recovery Centres, & also into Lobethal, Cudlee Creek & Kangaroo Island Recovery Centres (& drops to some key frontline agencies) more recently. 

I thought you should know that your gift of 19 years ago is still pivotal in state emergency outreach today, in crisis as it is in welfare activities day to day – truly a gift that keeps on giving for South Australians. Of course our newer 10 pallet refrigerated rigid Hino that you & Coopers so kindly donated to us has been just as busy criss-crossing the hills, doing many product pick-ups, & drop-offs (including Pooraka Mkt warehouse).

Like most people, I wish I could do so much more. Keep safe everyone.

Cheers
Leigh
Foodbank SA GM/Founder”