A family sit around a campfire next to their emergency caravan accommodation. They’ve lost their house and their belongings to the recent floods in NSW, and have nothing but a few items of clothing with them. Without any power or cooking appliances they can’t make dinner, but with the help of donated canned food and a simple jar of spices they are able to get through another meal.

As CEO of Addi Road Rosanna Barbero explains, this is just one of the thousands of examples of how canned goods are helping families and communities survive day to day during these incredibly challenging times.

“This family had nothing left. There was no electricity, and they couldn’t buy gas because it was during the peak if the flood,” says Barbero.

“They made a campfire with coals and they boiled the canned potatoes. They poured lentils and kidney beans over the potatoes, added some curry powder and they fed all six people in that family. It’s rudimentary, but it’s essential.

"The power of cans is that they are largely indestructible. If we can get cans to these people, even if they aren’t consumed that day, they can be stored because they don’t damage. We’ve all seen the damage the floods can do to not just food, but homes, furniture, cooking appliances, refrigeration. If people look around their home and picture water rising above their heads, what would they do? People need to ask themselves, if I lost all of this, what would I need? That’s where we help.”

Together with the Sydney Swans, Addi Road is calling on members and fans attending this Saturday’s Round 4 match against North Melbourne on April 9, to bring a can of food to donate to flood affected communities.

Barbero hopes the simplicity of picking up a can, whether on the way to the game or during the weekly shop, the Swans and Addi Road can reach their 5000 can goal, as they look to help families get through another day without going hungry.

“During floods people lose their power, they lose their homes, they lose everything that we would take for granted. The ability to be able to cook, to be able to sleep, to turn on a light, to even charge your mobile phone. The needs of those affected on the ground change weekly, sometimes daily, and cans are excellent because they are a constant source of help during those uncertain times.

"When you’ve lost everything, you can’t just go to a supermarket because the supermarket itself has been affected. Corridors of food delivery are affected, fresh food supply is affected. The best part about canned goods – be it a can of lentils or red kidney beans – they can replace a nice bowl of rice or a nice bowl of pasta. It can be mashed up and made up into protein balls, or it can literally just be emptied into a paper plate and topped with spices. If you give someone a bag of pasta, that person will then ask ‘how am I going to cook this? I haven’t got a stove, a microwave or electricity'.

"There are people on a day-to-day basis that are cleaning, that are traumatised, that are trying to provide some kind of normality for their children, and all the while they’re dealing with the bureaucracy of trying to get support. While people are having to think about all of these other elements, we can eliminate some of the daily concerns with a simple can of food. Food is fundamental, food is the most basic of human rights and needs, we need it every day. Think about how much easier life can be to get through with food available. In an emergency situation, it is literally about getting through each day, so people need to think about how easier that is made when you can put a meal together easily, with rudimentary or no other facilities.”

Match attendees are encouraged to bring a can of goods, such as canned vegetables, legumes, meat, fish, and fruit, to donate at two pink Addi Road tents, which will be located in the Sydney Swans Fan Zone on Driver Ave. Patrons can also scan the QR codes around the ground and make a donation to the flood appeal.

Whether you’re on school holidays or catching up with mates. there’s no better way to spend your Saturday afternoon than a Swans game at the SCG. Don’t miss our game against North Melbourne, Saturday April 9 from 2:40pm. BOOK NOW