At Loaves and Fishes Caboolture, the doors are always open, and every day, more people are walking through them.

“We’re looking at serving over 5,000 people a week who just pop in, even if it’s grabbing a couple of basics here and there,” Zoey, the Caboolture Site Manager shared.

Behind the scenes, the operation runs at full pace. Food is collected, orders are placed, shelves are replenished – and then replenished again. “Damian our truck driver collects from Foodbank every single day,” said Zoey. 

Zoey completes the ordering for both the Caboolture and Slacks Creek stores, constantly adjusting as the needs of the community continue to rise. She shared “The demand is growing. So, we’ve had to meet that need.”

What makes Loaves and Fishes special is its openness. There are no forms to prove hardship, no labels placed on people walking through the door. “There are no restrictions for who can access our pantry. Everybody is welcome to come in.” Zoey said. And they do. Elderly people, individuals, small families and large families. Some travel long distances just to access this vital support. As more people discover what Loaves and Fishes offers, demand has only continued to grow.

Zoey shared, “We have a lot more new customers. Everyone’s telling their friends.  We’ve had an increase of people in and out of the doors, which has been absolutely amazing to be able to support more people.” 

But with rising demand comes real challenges, particularly when it comes to essential items. “The demand is very high for certain items and we run low ever so quickly on stuff. It can be hard to then restock that, but we are making do,” Zoey shared. Protein is one of the hardest items to keep on the shelves, yet it’s one of the most important.

Since 2022, Zoey and her partner Damian – the truck driver – have been part of the Loaves and Fishes community, growing alongside the organisation as local needs have intensified.

The $50 hampers offered by Loaves and Fishes have become a cornerstone of support for the community, and filling them with nutritious, varied food is a priority the team takes seriously.

“Hampers are something that we do Monday to Friday, eight to four. If we’re open, hampers are available,” Zoey said.

Each hamper is more than a box of food – it’s a trolley filled with essential food and care. Pantry staples, a 5-kilogram bag of assorted protein when available, frozen vegetables, microwave meals like FareShare, and fresh fruit, vegetables and bread to finish it off.

On their busiest days, the team can create up to 80 hampers. “Our volunteers pack the trolleys and then they come out and people are beside themselves. I have people crying at times, overwhelmed by the support.” 

It’s moments like these that reveal the true purpose of the School Breakfast Program. It’s not only about the Vegemite on toast and bowl of cereal; it’s about community and belonging.

Karen, who has coordinated a The Y Queensland School Breakfast Program for more than 17 years, has seen the difference consistent food relief can make. She remembers when Foodbank’s partners were able to provide consistently for their programs. “When Tip Top became a partner and came in with Foodbank, it made my day. That connection solidified the program to continue,” she shared.

Karen has seen firsthand what hunger looks like in the classroom. “I’ve seen it straight up, a family of four young boys, single parent, nothing to eat. The youngest got in trouble for taking food out of the cupboard. So they were devouring breakfast at school.”

What began as a small initiative has become a lifeline for children and families across the state. The success of the program meant Karen and her team could no longer deliver breakfast themselves, but she doesn’t mind sharing, “It’s gotten too big now. And that’s okay, because more kids are getting food.” But her passion for this program only gets stronger. “I just have a passion to serve children, serve people, feed them bread, make sure they’re full. It’s a lifelong passion.”

Beyond breakfast, The Y Queensland and Foodbank Queensland also work together to provide more than 2,000 Food for Kids hampers over every school holiday period, ensuring children don’t go hungry when school kitchens close.

For Gina from The Y Queensland, the connection between breakfast and learning outcomes is undeniable. Research shared by The Kids Research Institute Australia shows that children who skip breakfast are almost twice as likely to perform poorly on NAPLAN tests. Gina explained, “it actually changes their wellbeing, helps them learn, think and perform.”

Together, The Y Queensland and Foodbank Queensland are making sure every child has what they need to thrive, not just food for the day, but the nourishment, confidence and care to build a brighter future.