In the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, distance is part of everyday life. Communities are spread across wide landscapes, and travelling between towns can take time and planning. For families seeking extra food support, those journeys can be long – especially as fuel costs rise and daily living expenses increase. That’s why Better Together Atherton works hand in hand with Foodbank Queensland to make sure everyone has access to nourishing food close to home.

At the heart of Better Together’s emergency relief program is a simple, compassionate belief: food is a basic human right, and community reaching out when in need is exactly what they are there for.

Better Together offer a number of different ways to access food support, all of which are welcoming and free. Community Pantry is a weekly event where people can access the ‘mini-supermarket’, taking home two bags of groceries including meat, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost. The approach is gentle and respectful – steady support that people can rely on, with a social boost to combat isolation and loneliness.

The Pantry is only one part of a wider network of care designed to meet people where they are. With Emergency Relief both in house and via outreach, food naturally becomes the starting point for connection – the one thing we all have in common, breaking across culture, language and address.

“Whether we provide a hot meal at Pantry, or a sausage sizzle at the park on outreach, it is food that brings people together, creates conversation and builds trust and rapport between clients, staff and volunteers,” Amanda says, Community Development Officer at Better Together Atherton. “That social connection – that’s just as important as the food.”

Life in regional communities brings unique circumstances, and during times of natural disaster, the need for support can grow quickly. Better Together has been there in those moments, responding with care and practical help.

Through its partnership with Foodbank Queensland, Better Together is able to respond both in everyday moments and during emergencies. As a Disaster Relief Supply Point, the organisation keeps hampers and essential items ready to share when they’re needed most.

“One phone call can change everything,” Amanda recalls. “When we were notified of the disaster activation recently, Better Together was tasked to provide material and community support to communities who had lost everything. We were out there and, on the ground, ASAP.”

“Foodbank Queensland really helps us reach further,” Amanda says. “We’re a hub, and then we disperse it out to the community.”

This partnership also ensures good food is thoughtfully distributed – from pantry shelves to School Breakfast Programs and community meals – so it can make the greatest difference.

Inside the centre, something powerful continues to grow: connection.

“It really brought a community together,” Amanda says. “If someone doesn’t show up for pantry one week, people check on each other. They call. That’s the community.”

After more than 40 years of service, Better Together continues to listen and evolve, guided by the voices of local people and the needs they share.

“Our mission is to support the community with the services they actually need,” Amanda says. “And to make sure people don’t have to reach absolute crisis before they ask for help.”

Together with Foodbank Queensland, Better Together Community Support in Atherton continues to nurture connection, strengthen resilience, and ensure that every member of the Atherton Tablelands community has access to nourishing food and caring support.