Adventist Food Company Supports Crisis Shelter in Australia

Sanitarium, a Seventh-day Adventist food company in Australia and New Zealand, has extended a helping hand to Coast Shelter, an organization that offers vital assistance and crisis accommodation to those in need.

The staff of the food company personally contributed more than US$3,400 (AU$5,500)—enough to create 85 hampers—toward Coast Shelter’s annual Christmas appeal. This donation accounted for nearly half of the not-for-profit’s annual hamper appeal target. Additionally, Sanitarium surprised the organization with a US$12,400 (AU$20,000) donation to ensure its valuable programs can continue in 2025 and beyond.

Coast Shelter operates on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, providing a range of services and support for people experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence.

“The generosity of our people is inspiring,” said Todd Saunders, executive general manager for Sanitarium in Australia and New Zealand. “They truly live our purpose to change lives every day through whole person health and rallied together to support those in need in the community in which we work.”

Sanitarium’s employees not only donated to the hamper appeal but also fundraised by wrapping gifts for Coast Shelter. They also donated funds to provide 40 vouchers for clients of the men’s refuge and gifted their own Christmas vouchers—adding another US$930 (AU$1,500) to the total.

Coast Shelter faced a challenging year, recording a 55 percent increase in community demand for services ranging from emergency accommodation to domestic violence support.

“This is a huge helping hand to the people in the Central Coast community who rely on us,” said Emma Richomme, Coast Shelter’s corporate and community development coordinator. “Without these 85 hampers and the voucher donation funds, it is likely that many vulnerable people living on the coast that we support would not have been able to celebrate the festive season.”

Sanitarium’s partnership with Coast Shelter spans two decades and has included providing support programs to teach clients how to write a résumé, product donations, as well as financial contributions.

“We look forward to continuing this valuable partnership with Coast Shelter and to further supporting their vital work in years to come,” Saunders said.

Coast Shelter CEO Lee Shearer highlighted the importance of Sanitarium’s continued support.

“Thanks to Sanitarium’s staff, for two decades now Coast Shelter has been able to provide life-changing services to individuals and families facing their toughest times, bringing hope and comfort to those in need,” Shearer said. “Their belief in our mission means so much to us and to those we serve. We look forward to another year of making a difference together.”

The original version of this story was posted on Adventist Record.