Congratulations to our Volunteer Team of the Year 2023!

We are thrilled to share that our Foodbank NSW & ACT Warehouse Volunteer Team have been awarded Outer Western Sydney Volunteer Team of the Year.

Our incredible team of volunteers are the key ingredient to enabling us to provide over 65,000 meals per day to families across the state and territory. From sorting and labelling items to stocking shelves and packing food orders, we rely heavily on our community who generously give their time to help us get food to the people who need it most.

Thank you to our wonderful Warehouse Volunteer Team and to The Centre For Volunteering for recognising their hard work.

We’re always on the lookout for more community members to volunteer with us Monday to Friday. Click here to learn more.

Volunteer with us

Demand for food relief in the ACT continues to grow, with Foodbank now sending 40% more food to the territory than last year – an increase of 11% since just last month.

Foodbank NSW & ACT CEO, John Robertson says, “This is incredibly concerning, because while demand continues to rise week on week, the support we get from the ACT Government is set to end in a matter of days.”

For the last decade, local pantries supplied by Foodbank in ACT are accessing a freight subsidy under the ACT Government Food Assistance program. This subsidy ends in June. Funding for the program is provided to support local pantries across the ACT to access food relief supplies from Foodbank NSW & ACT. Due to the recent increase in fuel costs and cost per pallet, the funding allocation for the program has been exhausted well in advance of June 2023.

For the majority of our community partner charities, accessing groceries and produce through Foodbank NSW & ACT is the most efficient way for them to access supplies, particularly pantry staples in the ACT. But we won’t be able to get food to them if we don’t have the funding. Most local pantries are entirely dependent on the Food Assistance program and would not be able to absorb part or full costs of freight.”

says Mr Robertson.

Kirsty Baker runs local pantry, Tuckerbox at the Holy Cross Anglican Church in Hackett. She is witnessing first-hand the growing need in her community:

Things are getting desperate. More and more people in our community are in need. We have already been struggling to keep up and we know it’s getting worse by the day. Food has always been a discretionary spend when you don’t have money, but now even the basics are becoming such a luxury. We recently spoke with someone who is feeding their dog Weetbix and eating dry cereal because even milk is too expensive.

At Tuckerbox, we are the fence at the top of the cliff, not the ambulance waiting at the bottom – we are trying to stop people falling in the first place. The Food Assistance Program has meant that for $40,000 a year we have been able to conservatively supply half a million dollars in food for those in need. But that will all change.”

We’re bracing for the despair, mental health issues, and broader health outcomes, especially as we come into winter. We’re already struggling to get food to everyone who needs it, so we simply can’t imagine what it will be like if the funding stops.”

Mr Robertson says, “It’s essentially five minutes to midnight yet we’ve been in conversations with government about this for over eight months. Without commitment from the ACT Government to continue the program, this kind of support in the ACT will disappear, putting multiple organisations and thousands of people at risk of not being able to access food.”

In response to the worrying rise in demand for food in the territory, Foodbank NSW & ACT distributed 630 food hampers for free to community members doing it tough.

“The situation is dire. We’re doing everything we can, and we’re now resorting to getting hampers to people who can no longer put food on the table. Soon they might have nowhere else to turn, and we will no longer be able to support in this way if the funding we so desperately need isn’t forthcoming,” Mr Robertson concludes.

Foodbank short one million kilograms of food

3 things Riverina residents can do to help

New data from Foodbank NSW & ACT shows that 763,000 people across the state went hungry in the past year, skipping meals or sometimes going entire days without eating.

The food-relief organisation has been fighting hunger since 1992. Each month, providing 339,200 people across the state and territory with food and grocery assistance. The Riverina is an essential source of much-needed produce for Foodbank, with almost a third of their produce coming from the area. It is considered the food bowl to NSW & ACT.

Supply Chain Manager, Joanna Grey says, “It’s hard to believe the levels of hunger across our states. We’re committed to doing everything we can to help feed everyone who needs it, but the demand for food continues to grow and as it stands, we’re short 1million kilograms of essential produce – equivalent to 1.8million meals.

“We’re so fortunate to work with incredible partners who donate so much from the Riverina, it really is the food bowl to NSW & ACT. But as the demand grows, we’re having to reduce the amount that we can give to the charity partners to ensure all of NSW & ACT receives fruit & vegetables.”

Now more than ever, the organisation needs support to continue to feed hungry families. Here’s three ways you can help:

Donate to struggling families this Christmas

Hit hard by floods, bushfires, the COVID pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis, struggling families are being pushed into hardship and hunger – many for the very first time in their lives. Without urgent support, they simply won’t be able to afford Christmas, meaning many people will go hungry.

For just $35, you can give struggling families a Christmas food hamper so that they don’t have to go without a Christmas meal.

Join the Foodbank team

Foodbank NSW & ACT are on the hunt for a Produce Manager from the Riverina area.

Supply Chain Manager, Joanna Gray says, “Food insecurity is a growing problem, requiring a huge, coordinated response. Our team helps bridge the gap between the food and grocery industry’s surplus items and the 763,000 across our state people going without food. Our employees and volunteers are determined to end hunger, but we need more help.”

Working closely with Riverina farmers, growers and packers, the position will play a key role in achieving the organisation’s goal of increasing the quantity and quality of food distributed to people in need.

“This is an opportunity to use your networks with Riverina farmers, retailers and growers to make a difference to the community.”

Hold a food drive

Food drives are a great way to get teams and communities together whilst helping us get more food, grocery and personal items to the people who need them.

You can help provide meals for people in crisis when you hold a food drive. From canned meals and vegetables to bags of rice and pasta, your generous donations will help many families who would otherwise go without.

Ms Grey says, “We welcome all non-perishable pantry items that are in-date and personal hygiene and household items, including bottled water, tinned food, pasta, long life milk, shampoo, baby food, and more.”

To find out more, visit the Foodbank website: www.foodbank.org.au

ENDS

Foodbank Hunger Report 2021

This year, we released the Foodbank Hunger Report 2021, which revealed that 1 in 6 adults in Australia haven’t had enough to eat in the last year, and even more shockingly, 1.2 million children have gone hungry.

The report this year uncovers the compounding reality of food insecurity in the time of COVID-19. More than 70% of people going hungry go a whole day without eating at least once a week. 43% of children who live in severe food insecurity go a whole day without eating once a week. Hunger is affecting people across all demographics right now, many are young working families, retirees, and indigenous people living in regional Australia.

The report, now in its 10^th year, highlights that the pandemic continues to deliver challenges that are exacerbating pre-existing issues in our community. In addition to those who were already struggling before COVID-19, the pandemic has caused others to experience vulnerability for the first time. In fact, more than one in three of last year’s food insecure people in NSW (39%) had never been in that position before.

The report highlights that food insecurity is not restricted to the ‘obvious’ vulnerability groups in the community such as homeless people and the unemployed. It shows people of every age, living alone, in families and in groups are susceptible. Food insecurity is shown to affect people in cities right through to those in remote areas and surprisingly, it affects more people in some form of employment (64%) than those who have none.

The Foodbank Hunger Report provides a snapshot of the prevalence and depth of the issues of food insecurity as well as insights into the day-to-day experience of people in our community who are doing it tough.

Thanks from Ritsara

After receiving one of our emergency food hampers, Ritsara took the time to send us his thanks and even snapped a pic with the contents of the hamper

“Thank you for delivering my groceries this week; I really don’t know what I’d do without you. Please stay safe while you are keeping us all safe, and know that what you do makes a big positive difference to me.”

Help for Locked Down Residents

(Photo courtesy of ABC Sydney)

When an apartment block in Blacktown got locked down in late July due to COVID-19 cases, Foodbank was there with a hamper ready for each apartment.

One resident, got in touch just after the delivery:

“Hi Foodbank, just to let you know that my mother and I are thankful for the groceries provided for us at this crucial time. We both are doing ok. My only concern is my mother’s heart breaking situation, as she is very unwell. We can get through this biggest problem in the world with love and unity.”

A thanks to our charity partners

One of our charity partners in Seven Hills in Sydney’s West has been working hard to offer food hampers to families affected by the COVID lockdown. Around 60 Families a day are being supported under their contactless drive thru & deliveries.

“We are currently supporting those who were already falling through the cracks before COVID – refugees, asylum seekers and disadvantaged families with children, they’re finding it really tough right now.”

Community Care Seven Hills is one of many hundreds of our charity partners who are helping us to provide essential food relief in lockdown.

Words of thanks from lockdown

Foodbank has worked tirelessly to try to meet the surging need for hunger relief during lockdown. But this has only been possible thanks to thousands of everyday Aussies who have donated and have directly helped to put food on the table for people going hungry.

Here are some messages of thanks that convey just how significant your donation has been to people during this crisis.

“I don’t know how to thank you all. This is very kind of you. The hamper has everything that can go for a week or more. Thanks a million for your support. This was really helpful.”

“I’d just like to say thank you very much for the support that you’ve provided us with these hampers: they will be a great help for me during these tough times. The country I am from is facing worsening conditions with COVID and I worry for the health of my family and friends back home. But this hamper has helped me ease some of my worries.”

“I’m not sure how I was so lucky to get a hamper, but I thank you so much. I’m a single mother on a disability pension and once my rent and bills are paid we live on rations, mostly rice and pasta. I really appreciate this hamper it is of great use for us, as I’m sure it will be for many. I’m always frightened week to week of what food I will have to feed my child. So again, I thank you so much.”

“At this crisis time, I am really thankful to you all for providing me groceries which I was unable to buy due to lack of money as I lost my job. The groceries will now help me for about 3-4 weeks. I was really facing problems which made me believe no one is here to help. But you guys made me believe that humanity does exists. The support I got from you really means a lot to me in this pandemic situation. Thank you so much.”

“I am so grateful to have grocery support from Foodbank. During this time this kind of help has kept me motivated. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your help.”

“Without assistance like this I would be stealing from shops and supermarkets, and I’ve never wanted to do things like that in the first place. When you’re down and out and have no money, nowhere to live…that’s something I’ve had to do.

I would like to thank you and anyone else who’s involved. Thank you.”

If you would like to donate to continue helping more people in lockdown you can do so here.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY, SAYS MARGARET

Hunger Fighters are a special group of people who give a regular donation to Foodbank every four weeks.

Big-hearted regular donors like Margaret know that even the smallest donation to Foodbank goes a long way.

“Every four weeks I donate $20. That’s all I can afford at the moment. My husband is on a pension, I’m on Centrelink, so there’s not much money there, but we can afford to give that little bit to Foodbank,” said Margaret.

Did you know that every single dollar donated to Foodbank provides two meals? You can make a difference, too. Margaret encourages you to become a Hunger Fighter, too. “Go for it. People need help. We need to get that food out to everybody who is doing it tough.”

If you would like to become a regular donor like Margaret you can sign up here.

“Without hope, I don’t know where we’d be.”

Jenny never imagined she would need help from Foodbank – until her Marital Arts business had to close down during the COVID lockdown.

“We had no income. My husband, who was semi-retired, went back to work driving trucks. He struggled, but we had to get some money in the door to feed us and our boys.

“Before COVID-19 hit, we were partnering with Foodbank, providing veggies from local Goulburn farmers for hampers. Then we ended up needing help, too. We’re still trying to get back on our feet.

“I’m a Foodbank volunteer now. I’m so intensely proud of our community – the way we are looking out for each other. To all those wonderful people who have donated to Foodbank, please keep your donations coming.”

Hungry Aussie families like Jenny’s are so grateful to you for putting food on the table – thank you.