Toyota collects five tonnes-plus for food drive

BENDIGO Toyota has handed over the results of its 2025 Winter Food Drive to Bendigo Foodshare, with this year’s tally coming in at an amazing five thousand, one hundred and eighty kilograms worth of goods.

In total, the collection included over 2000 litres of milk, with more than 700 litres donated by local sporting clubs as part of the dealership’s $500 Milk Collection Competition.

Bendigo Toyota more than matched that effort by donating an entire pallet of milk (1100 litres) themselves.

The collection also included $3000 worth of food from an anonymous donor, with the funds used to purchase supplies from local Champions IGA supermarkets.

Over the past four weeks, Bendigo Toyota’s marketing manager Gabe Richards has stationed herself at the front entrance of local supermarkets, including Woolworths Bendigo Marketplace and Woolworths Epsom, successfully encouraging shoppers to add a few extra items to their trolleys for donation.

Additionally, Bendigo Toyota hosted its annual drive-through donation drop-off during the period, where locals could drive up and deliver their contributions directly at the dealership.

“This year’s tally looks to be our biggest yet. I continue to be utterly amazed by the generosity of our community,” Ms Richards said.

“We have an amazingly supportive network of local businesses and friends who have also helped.

“Bendigo Toyota has been involved in Foodshare’s Winter Food Drive for more than a decade, and in that time we’ve collected well over 10 tonnes of food and thousands of dollars worth of donations.”

Ms Richards said to see the way the community continues to rally year after year is something “really special,” and it makes her incredibly proud to be part of it.

“Bendigo Toyota thanks everyone who contributed, from individuals and families through to sporting clubs, local businesses and anonymous donors for their generosity in helping those in need across the region,” she said.