Social enterprise Thankyou has announced funding for its first Australian project, the Salvation Army’s Hamodava Café in Melbourne’s CBD, through purchases of Thankyou’s food range available at 7-Eleven, Coles and Woolworths.
To launch the partnership between Thankyou and the Salvation Army, Lord Mayor of Melbourne Robert Doyle, Thankyou Managing Director and co-founder Daniel Flynn, 7-Eleven Australia CEO Warren Wilmot and Salvation Army Commanding Officer Brendan Nottle gathered at the café last month alongside volunteers who served breakfast and espresso coffee to Melbourne’s homeless and disadvantaged.
The Hamodava Café is a purpose-built space at the Salvation Army’s Bourke Street headquarters, where Melbourne’s homeless and disadvantaged can enjoy breakfast and lunch with table service from dedicated volunteers, in addition to access to daily newspapers, the internet, TV and barista-made espresso coffee.
“We’re so proud to partner with the Salvation Army, an incredibly respected social welfare institution, to fund our first Australian project,” Mr Flynn said. “This is a big milestone for us and we’re excited to give Australians the chance to impact people in need here in Melbourne as well as in developing nations through purchasing our food products.”
Funding for Thankyou’s first Australian project coincides with the launch of Thankyou’s new individual 45g bar range, sold in 7-Eleven Australia stores nationally. The range features four flavours, including two gluten-free bars, with funds from the 45g bar going towards the Hamodava Café as well as immediate food aid and long-term food solutions for people in need in Kenya and Cambodia.
