The New Faces of Hunger

Do you remember Leanne and Jack and their young family? Their story in our recent letter touched many hearts… especially the news that little Robert, aged just 11, had a heart attack, then a further illness, Sydenham’s Chorea.

It was hard to believe that one young couple had to cope with so much in such a short time. The reality is, this is just one story among hundreds; hard-working Aussie families who never in their wildest dreams imagined they would be facing such hardship.

Your kind response to this appeal made a huge difference. Foodbank has delivered food hampers brimming with ingredients for healthy meals
to Leanne and Jack to feed their kids, and other families, too.

Leanne and Jack face many hard days ahead. Jack has still not secured a job. Robert is struggling to cope with his new medicine. And they are not alone.

Families who have never needed help to put food on the table for their children are now desperate, and it could be anyone, in your street or the school yard.

Groups like Deloitte Access Economics estimate the further loss of 145,000 jobs over the next two years. That’s countless thousands more families going hungry. And that’s why Foodbank is aiming to deliver an extra 2.7 million meals a month to families in need.

Thank you so much for your care and support for families like Leanne and Jack’s. Knowing that people like you care so much about them brings such comfort. Your generosity is bringing hope and filling empty tummies.

Your kindness changed everything for Glenn

“I lost the business, I lost my house, I lost my car, everything. It was unbelievable.”

Last year, Glenn’s visa travel business wore the full impact of COVID-19. “Christmas time was always slow. There was the bushfires, followed by floods. People weren’t traveling. Then as soon as COVID hit, bang, everything stopped straightaway. I had seven staff. We had to put everyone off and close the doors.”

Glenn’s friends loaned him money to do his house up and sell for maximum value. With what was left, he bought a small home in Wingham on the NSW North Coast to start over. But sadly, Glenn was once again plunged into turmoil in the disastrous NSW floods.

“I got up at 2am to look down the hill and the water was almost at my house. It just kept coming and coming. I was luckier than others, but I couldn’t believe disaster had struck again.”

Glenn says receiving his Crisis Hamper after the floods was ‘a little ray of sunshine’. “For me, being single and for the families on my street, it was like a breath of fresh air. Such a beautiful gift to receive in a time of need.”

CEO Message

In March, hundreds of people found themselves trapped in NSW floodwaters. Thanks to your kindness, Foodbank was able to respond urgently to the flood crisis, delivering much-needed hampers to those in desperate need.

Your response to our plea for help was immediate and incredible. It was a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are to have people like you by our side – thank you.

The media has left, the floods have slipped from TV screens, but the disaster left behind will take months of recovery. With your dedication to helping feed struggling Aussies, Foodbank will be there every step of the way.

John Robertson

CEO Foodbank NSW & ACT

YOU’VE MADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR HAYLEY

It’s the bravery of mums like Hayley that really shines through during tough times – and it’s the kindness of people like you that keep her going.

After her work as a touch football coach stopped due to COVID-19 restrictions, Hayley realised she would have to ask for help to make ends meet and put food on the table for her three kids, Grace, Jake and Peter. “My greatest fear is that my kids will go hungry,” said Hayley.

Hayley has been grateful to receive items from Foodbank through her local food pantry, made possible by generous donations from people just like you.

“A big portion of my food and groceries now comes from the pantry. It’s a struggle some days, but I’m getting there.”

Even though she’s still doing it tough herself, Hayley is right at the front line of support, volunteering her time at the food pantry.

“I’m here most days now, just to give back to the community. We are struggling to keep things on the shelves, because the number of people coming here have at least doubled since COVID-19.”

52,000 REASONS TO SMILE AGAIN

Every Foodbank hamper changes lives and brings smiles of joy. Last year, Foodbank delivered an unbelievable 52,000 hampers to Australians in need – something that was only possible thanks to the generosity of Hunger Fighters just like you.

The number of people seeking food relief in NSW and the ACT at least once a week has doubled. Young people have been hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19, with 57% of those aged 26-40 suddenly hungry. It is heartbreaking that more Australians are going hungry than ever before.

Foodbank has received literally hundreds of emotional letters and emails from families who have had to face food insecurity for the first time in their lives.

Here are just a few of the real stories of food insecurity in Australia in 2020. Thank you for helping us bring smiles to their faces again.

“When I received my hamper, I burst into tears” – Belinda

“These groceries have helped me and my daughter a lot. We are very grateful for your love” – Tendai

“We are really struggling financially like a lot of people. I received a hamper and shared some of the food with someone I know that could use it as well” – Trish

PHILLIP’S CHRISTMAS WISH CAME TRUE, THANKS TO YOU!

Phillip didn’t know how he was going to get through Christmas. He hasn’t worked for more than eight months. When we first spoke to him, it was all he could think about. He’s living week to week.

“Ever since I left school, I worked as a tradie. The bushfires hitting my hometown seemed bad enough, but when COVID hit, work dried up – and then I got injured. I haven’t got a wage coming in right now.

“I’m just trying to get the girls a good Christmas, get them a few presents. It’s not going to be easy this year.”

But thanks to your incredible generosity, Phillip and his girls were all smiles on Christmas Day. This loving dad surprised Carlie and little Indy, who is just six, with a delicious Christmas lunch, provided by a Foodbank hamper – and a few small presents.

“I worked for myself as a painter and decorator for 25 years and I’ve never experienced food insecurity. To know you can’t feed your children properly is the most gut-wrenching feeling.

“Now, I don’t know what I’d do without Foodbank. Getting groceries frees up money where I can put it to other things, like a few little Christmas presents or pay some bills.”

With thousands of parents like Phillip struggling to put food on the table after losing their jobs last year, the number of families relying on Foodbank has doubled. There has never been such a critical time for your support. We are so thankful to you, and so is Phillip.

“I’d like to thank all the supporters for being so kind at Christmas time. It’s been a tough year for many people, not just me and my girls. There’s people worse off than what I am. That makes those donations even more special. Thank you.”

FOODBANK NSW & ACT CEO MESSAGE

I’m delighted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is John Robertson and I recently came on board as Foodbank NSW & ACT Chief Executive Officer.

The first role I ever had at Foodbank was over a decade ago, as a volunteer. Like you, I wanted to make a difference. I’ve been right there on the front line, packing hampers and driving vehicles, and sometimes had the privilege to meet the people who needed those hampers. The expressions on their faces when they received our support – it showed me why we do what we do. To bring relief, happiness and hope, where there was none.

I’ve spent most of my working life helping people through the careers I have had, and I know you understand that feeling. It brings purpose to your life, doesn’t it? I know this is why you are a passionate supporter of Foodbank – because you understand that living with hunger is incredibly tough.

Because it’s not just about food, it’s about opportunity. Parents who put food to one side to pay bills begin to lose hope. Kids who go to school with empty lunchboxes can’t concentrate on their schoolwork. It’s not just about today, tonight, or tomorrow, it’s about the future. That’s why your generosity is so, so important. You’re creating new opportunities, new hope.

After serving as Chief Operating Officer at Foodbank over the past three years, this role has given me a whole fresh insight into the power of collective effort – and the importance of your contribution to that effort. It’s such an honour to be leading a team that wakes up every day ready to bring hope and fight hunger, and you are critical to this team. Because we could not do what we do without you.

Please, don’t ever underestimate the value of your donation. When I was working behind the scenes, I was amazed at how far even one dollar would go. The economies of scale we have at Foodbank can convert that one dollar into two meals, 10 dollars to 20 meals… and on and on. When we pool every single donation together, that’s support for entire communities going through tough times.

Every day, I’m humbled by the spirit of the Aussie families we support, and thankful for people like you, who open your heart to make a difference.

So, thank you so much for all that you do. We couldn’t feed hope without you.

John Robertson
CEO Foodbank NSW & ACT

A Helping hand for MUNGINDI as it’s only supermarket burns down

Friday 4th September, 2020 – A truckload of food has just arrived at the small border community of Mungindi, which lost its only supermarket, butchery and clothing store in a freak fire on Tuesday night.

CEO of Foodbank NSW & ACT, Gerry Andersen says the former Mungindi RSL building has been flagged as the site for the temporary supermarket with the NSW Government committing $100,000 to set up the temporary grocery store.

Locals spent all day Thursday cleaning the building with the Foodbank produce and emergency hampers among the donations to arrive this morning.

“We were on the phones as soon as we heard the news. The community of Mungindi is suffering through drought, COVID-19 and now the recent fire.”

“The Foodbank truck has arrived at Mungindi with 180 emergency food and 120 personal care hampers as well as mixed fresh produce to assist families and individuals during this time. We’re also working with Mungindi Central School to prepare and distribute lunch for their students.”

“It’s vital we do what we can to support those in need in these challenging times. For the past 28 years Foodbank NSW & ACT (FBNA) has been sourcing and delivering food for hungry Australians. Our statistics show people living in rural and regional areas are 33% more likely to have experienced food insecurity.”

“Our thoughts are with all those affected. The Foodbank family will continue to assist with food relief as we know it takes time for communities to heal and rebuild.” Mr Andersen said.

FBNA is the largest provider of food relief to charities around the state and territory. Right now, the demand for food relief is greater than ever before. The 2019 Foodbank Hunger Report has revealed more than one in five Australians (21%) have been in a situation where they have run out of food and have been unable to eat.

Children are going hungry

Hard-working mum Hayley absolutely adores her beautiful kids, Grace, Peter and Jake.

Struggling to afford the basics for her family was heartbreaking for Hayley.

She’s always worked incredibly hard to provide for them, but when she lost her job due to COVID-19, it suddenly became much harder to feed them every day.

“My greatest fear is that my kids will go hungry. Things are so expensive… it’s hard to get on top of stuff – and with no income coming in, it’s even tougher.”

The tragic reality is that Hayley is just one of many parents overwhelmed with worry right now about how to feed their children.

Even before COVID-19, three children in every classroom across NSW and ACT were going to school without breakfast. Today, the situation is much worse.

Foodbank nationally has seen a 78% surge in demand for food relief. Hunger is no longer a hidden crisis, and children are going hungry at alarming rates.

Foodbank’s School Breakfast 4 Health program now serves over 137,000 meals each week to kids who would otherwise go without. But with more children going hungry than ever before, we urgently need your help to meet the skyrocketing demand.

Everyday Aussie kids are arriving at school with an empty lunchbox, some don’t even know if there will be dinner on the table at night.

Hayley shared, “It’s so scary to think what would happen to my children if Foodbank wasn’t around… I don’t know how we’d cope.”

When a child goes to school hungry, there’s much more at stake than just empty bellies, their entire education can be put at risk.

Just imagine how hard it is for a young child to concentrate on the maths or science problems in front of them, when all they can feel is the pain deep of their rumbling tummies.

In fact, teachers estimate that the average student loses more than two hours of learning time when they arrive at school without breakfast. That lost time quickly adds up over weeks and months. You can only imagine the devastating impact on these students as they fall further and further behind their peers.

It’s heartbreaking, but sadly, the obstacles facing hungry kids don’t stop there.

Teachers also say that students who arrive without having eaten a nutritious meal are more likely to express their emotion in disruptive behaviours. Without food in their stomachs, these kids can become restless, irritable, angry and easily upset. On top of that, many hungry kids feel too ashamed to attend their School Breakfast 4 Health program.

We’re working with local schools to help ensure that every hungry child gets the food they need, but that means we need even more food than ever before. With so many kids in need across NSW and ACT right now, we urgently need your help to feed every single hungry child like Grace, Peter and Jake.

Can you give generously today to provide nutritious breakfasts for hungry children and help them start the day right and achieve their very best at school?

Your support will mean so much to parents like Hayley. Many are struggling to cope with the stress of losing their jobs, and some are being forced to decide whether or not to feed their kids when the money has run out.

You’ll be helping thousands of kids like Grace, Peter and Jake:

Improve their nutrition and eating habits
Improve their mental and physical health
Reduce the number of children who stay home from school
Help them engage with a clear mind and full stomach in class
Help them develop social and leadership skills.

Please donate today to provide the wholesome, nutritious meals that children need to do their best every day.

A Word from Gerry

Thank you. Your unwavering support through the most challenging time in Foodbank’s history has eased the pain and distress of countless hungry Australians. There are no words that can truly express my gratitude.

Foodbank has supported Australians in need through the generous support of people like you.

The sheer scale of the COVID-19 crisis has been heart-wrenching, and Foodbank will be relied upon to assist families in putting food on the table for years while they recover.

Not so long ago, hunger was a hidden crisis, affecting 1 in 5 Australians. Today, as we emerge from the bushfires and COVID-19, this statistic is now 2 in 5 people.

That’s 50% more families living day to day, skipping meals. Feeling daily stress, grief and guilt as their children go to school with rumbling tummies and empty lunch boxes.

I am mindful that this crisis has affected many of our supporters personally. If you are struggling to put meals on the table, please reach out to us.

The overwhelming generosity of the community assisted us to source food and employ emergency labour to create and deliver 9,800 hampers, a simply extraordinary number of food relief parcels.

Your support of Foodbank has brought hope to families like Kylie’s – a family already doing it tough, but hit so hard by our recent crisis that she was constantly in tears as she could not feed her children.

“This food will help our family 1000% for the next few weeks. It means we will be able to get by and we’re not going to be struggling,” said Kylie.

Your kind heart has ensured people like Jay, who lost her job in the beauty industry, had food to put on the table. Jay’s story is of an overnight transformation. She was privately renting with no money worries, and then suddenly had no income, no money – having to live with friends or in emergency accommodation.

Jay’s story is sadly one that has been played out around the country right now. People who never imagined they would ever have to come to Foodbank for help, suddenly thrown into a desperate situation.

It’s a story that Charity Partners like Mama Lana’s and Hawkesbury Helping Hands see every day. Linda Strickland, Founder of Hawkesbury Helping Hands, says “most of the stories are heartbreaking and many days I can hardly hold it together… but we need to get the food out, and we need to get it out very, very quickly because people are starving in our community.”

Right across Australia, so many people are struggling. Often these are people who have been victims of devastation just as they were trying to help others – people like Phillip, one of the firemen on the front line in the community of Kiah, trying to save homes in the bushfire crisis. Phillip lost his own home, and only just escaped with his life.

“We need help here,” says Phillip. “Recovery is going to take a long time. We need to let people know we still need assistance here. It’s going to take years to rebuild.”

As COVID-19 restrictions ease further and we adapt to our new normal, I am witnessing the return of hope – for new jobs, a boost to our economy and re-connection. But for some, there is little hope right now. Your gift will support Australians who have lost homes, jobs and their loved ones to get back on their feet.

On behalf of the many thousands of Australians who are going hungry right now, I’d like to say a very special thank you for your ongoing support. Every dollar you give makes a difference.

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