Leading small appliance manufacturer donates products to charity.
Breville has partnered with YouTube cooking sensation, Ann Reardon and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) in-house pastry chefs to create a giant gingerbread house (pictured below) in support of MCEC’s key charity partner, Launch Housing. Breville will donate $5,000 worth of products to Launch Housing, one of Victoria’s largest providers of housing and homelessness support services.
MCEC executive sous chef, Michael Belcher, who oversaw the significant project, said, “When Ann and the team at Breville approached us to create the gingerbread house, we saw a great opportunity to give back to the community by utilising our pastry team’s skills, expertise and large-scale capabilities,” Belcher said.
“Everyday kitchen appliances such as kettles and toasters are the kind of small luxuries that provide a great deal of comfort to those most in need during this time of year, so we are delighted to be able to support this important cause,” he added.
Breville category manager for food preparation and cooking, Naomi Scesny praised the MCEC team for their talent and generosity.
“Ann Reardon recommended Michael Belcher, and he and his team have put in more than 75 hours to help us achieve this 1.8 metre high gingerbread house replica. It has been a great project to watch evolve and the finished house is exactly what we hoped to achieve,” Scesny said.
Launch Housing CEO, Tony Keenan reiterated the importance of creating meaningful partnerships that support the ongoing mission to end homelessness.
“The coming together of MCEC, Breville and Launch Housing shows how partnerships can create something exciting that can make a difference. Not only are Breville and MCEC doing a great thing by donating goods to people in our services, they are also helping to raise awareness of homelessness.
“At this time of year, it’s really important to remember the people in our communities who are doing it tough,” Keenan said.