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FINDING COMMUNITY
HOW FOODBANK HELPED KATIE AND HER FAMILY FIND COMMUNITY
Katie is a single mum of two who has faced more challenges than most.
“There was a time when we didn’t even have a place to live,” she recalls. “I’ve been through just about every situation you can think of.”
When Katie and her family became homeless, they were referred to Foodbank. She arrived feeling uncertain, but was met with warmth, understanding and genuine care. Rather than judgement, she found a welcoming community where she was treated with dignity and supported with the food her family needed.
“Without Foodbank, I honestly don’t know how we’d manage. Being able to access free fresh fruit and vegetables and buy pantry staples at the prices we can actually afford has taken so much pressure off our family,” she says.
Today, Katie has a safe place to call home, but like many families across South Australia and the Northern Territory, rising living costs mean every dollar still has to stretch further than she’d like. Each week she visits her local Foodbank Food Hub, where affordable groceries and free fresh produce help her provide healthy meals for her children.
But Katie’s story isn’t simply about the food.
She found a sense of community.
“The staff know my children by name,” Katie says. “They’ve watched my daughter grow up. Every time we come in, they stop to say hello. They make us feel welcome.”
“I’m part of a single parents’ group, and we often meet at Foodbank to do our shopping together before getting together to cook and share a meal. It’s become so much more than just a place to buy food.”
That feeling of belonging has given Katie the confidence to encourage others who may be struggling to reach out for support.
“Some people feel embarrassed asking for help,” she says. “I tell them, ‘Come with me.’ Once they’ve been here, they realise Foodbank isn’t just about food. Everyone is treated with kindness and respect.”
While providing nutritious food is at the heart of what we do, our impact extends much further. Foodbank brings together volunteers, donors, businesses, community organisations and governments to create practical solutions that strengthen communities.
Whether it’s opening new Food Hubs, expanding our Mobile Food Hubs into regional areas, or working with local partners to remove barriers that make it harder for people to access support, every step is about ensuring help is available with dignity, when and where it’s needed most.
As Katie says, “Foodbank has given me breathing space. It’s taken away some of the stress and allowed me to focus on my children instead of worrying about how I’d pay for our next meal.”
If you are able to make a gift today, your generosity will help ensure families like Katie’s continue to receive the support they need, while enabling Foodbank to reach even more people facing difficult times.