What began as a small community centre in Townsville has grown into a vibrant hub for food, connections and opportunity. Community Gro is a safe, welcoming place for families and individuals doing it tough, offering support and connection when it’s needed most.

With fresh and frozen meals, pantry staples, a small op shop, and a variety of other donated essentials, everything donated is given back to the community at no cost. Community Gro provides help for people at every stage of their journey. Whether someone needs a hot meal or a listening ear, there’s always help, and a warm welcome, waiting side.

A key part of the centre’s offering is their ready-made, low-cost frozen meals, which anyone can purchase. Every dollar made from these meals is reinvested into buying more ingredients to cook even more meals — creating a cycle of support that the whole community gets behind. Volunteers, staff, and locals come together in the kitchen, turning compassion into action. 

Thanks to support from Foodbank Queensland, Community Gro has been able to purchase essential items that are often harder to come by — including meat, eggs, and fresh produce.

“We have been able to purchase more food for our community with the support of Foodbank,” says Colleen, Manager at the Garbutt Community Centre.

Beyond food, Community Gro is transforming lives through wrap-around services, offering financial resilience, support groups, educational classes and other support services. Their Youth Hub is also thriving, with over 100 kids regularly participating in cooking classes, homework help, and fun activities like fishing. 

Looking ahead, Community Gro is working towards developing a supported alternative learning centre — another step in their efforts to uplift and empower the diverse Townsville community.

From meals to mentorship, Community Gro is more than a food hub — it’s a place of possibility. 

Every Wednesday for the past 13 years, Mark, Jimmy and the volunteers at Community Friends have been there for people in need. At their weekly market, hundreds of people from across Southeast Queensland gather not just for food, but for connection, support and dignity.

“We serve 300 people each week at the Wednesday markets,” Jimmy, one of the Community Friends organisers shares. “And will support another 20 families during the week with emergency food hampers.” 

From Ipswich to Caboolture, Logan City to Southport, people travel long distances for the warm welcome and reliable help they receive. Tables overflow with fresh fruit and vegetables, shelf staples, and more – all completely free of charge.

“We buy some food, some food gets donated,” Jimmy explains. “We never say no to anything, Jimmy will take everything, because we can turn it into a meal.”

Foodbank Queensland is proud to be one of the many partners supporting Community Friends in their work. Over the years, the Community Friends team has become a lifeline for many, especially vulnerable members of the community like seniors.

“We have a lot of seniors around here, so if we can give them three to four days’ worth of food, they can use that money for electricity, medication, maybe something else they need.”

It’s not just food that brings people back – it is the deep sense of care. “Some people come not for the food, but for the company,” Jimmy says.

The market is also supported by other community organisations, like Orange Sky Laundry, and often includes shared meals cooked by community members. 

Generosity flows both ways. When wild weather swept through Brisbane and surrounds, a local bakery stepped up and made 600 croissants for Community Friends to share. Acts like these are not uncommon.

“We give and take in life, that is how we make it through,” Jimmy reflects, “I take it with one hand and give it to another hand.”

Community Friends’ commitment to those in need goes back decades. Jimmy recalls, “Fifty years ago, when I owned a convenience store, I would give extra food out to those who needed some support. When I worked in a catering business, we would cook extra meals for the community.”

Even now, Jimmy works around the clock – 24 hours a day, on call to make sure no one goes hungry. His dedication is unwavering, no matter the circumstances. “If you are hungry, the weather does not really matter. You still have to eat.” 

At the heart of Community Friends is a simple yet powerful belief: “We get all sorts of people, and we don’t ask questions. We don’t care what colour you are, what religion you are or where you come from. You are here and you deserve food.”

Thanks to the Community Friends team, hundreds of people each week receive more than just food – they are nourished with friendship, compassion and dignity. 

Open Hands Community Care’s Neighbourhood Marketplace began in 2020 as a family-led initiative with a simple but powerful mission: to provide affordable groceries and a sense of community to those in need. Today, they serve over 650 households a week, offering a welcoming space where people can access essential food items, support and connection.

Their pantry, open Tuesday to Saturday, is stocked with pantry staples, fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, bakery items and more. Families travel from the Gold Coast and beyond, drawn by the affordable prices – 50 to 70% off retail – but more than that, the warmth of the people behind the counter. Sherifaye, Managing Director of Open Hands Community Care shares “families are always looking for vegetables, bread and milk,” staples they always try to stock for the community. Most find Open Hands Community Care through word of mouth, a testament to the trust and appreciation they have built within the community. 

Open Hands Community Care has become a lifeline for many, Managing Director, Operations and Finance, Sherifaye, with the support of her family and Mum and Dad (Founders, who personally pick up the fresh produce from Foodbank Queensland!), work to personally connect with their community. The families and individuals they serve are diverse – migrants, refugees, elderly individuals, those with disabilities and even dual-income households facing financial hardship for the first time. 

“We have also got two income households also receiving support now. They are experiencing hardship for the first time, thinking, what do we do?” says Sherifaye. They have created a welcoming space where support can be accessed by anyone facing hardships. They are intentional about meeting the needs of their multicultural community, working with local grocers to stock culturally important foods such as cassava and taro.

When recent severe weather impacted the community, Open Hands Community Care stepped up, packing 500 hampers with support and funding from the Lord Mayor, highlighting their personal approach to helping families in their local area. “Everyone needs a hand up at some point in time,” says Sherifaye. “As long as you need help, we are here to help.”  

Recognising the growing need for connection, Open Hands Community Care also hosts a weekly Hug-A-Mug Morning Tea every Friday from 10am to 12pm. They set up tables and chairs, creating a space for people to share stories and form friendships.

“We noticed that most elderly people that come through, this is their connection. When they come through, they are talking and telling you about their week, their month. And we thought, let’s sit and actually share and have that connection,” Sherifaye explains.

Beyond providing food relief, Open Hands Community Care fosters a sense of belonging. One such story is of volunteers Barbra and Skip. “They live in the area and accessed our pantry for the first time in October 2021, but Skip is visually impaired, so he’d never come out of the car. And then one day we struck a connection to get him out of the car, and then he started navigating his way around. A month later, he said ’I want to volunteer and 3 and a half years later, they’re still with us.’”

Open Hands Community Care envisions an even bigger impact, with plans to expand into a community hub with access to further resources. They already host events every few months to bring families together and strengthen the support networks they have built.

The impact of their work is reflected in the gratitude of those they help. Community members come through and share with the Open Hands Community Care family, “We were down, you guys helped us with food and support, thank you,” Sherifaye shares. “It is knowing there is someone here to listen, to lend a hand.”

For those seeking a helping hand or a place to belong, Open Hands Community Care stands ready. As Sherifaye warmly invites, “come on through, we are open for everyone.” 

Champions Church is more than just a place of support – it’s a lifeline for the Redlands community. At its heart is a simple yet powerful philosophy: a hand up, not a handout.

The service has grown dramatically in the past 18 months. “We have quadrupled in the last 18 months, and even since this time last year to now, our clientele has doubled,” says Grant, Senior Pastor at Champions Church. As the cost of living rises, more people than ever – including young families – are turning to Champions Church for help.

“For so long we were servicing the pension age. What we have seen in the last 12 months is a switch, more young families coming through,” Brendan, Food Relief Manager at Champions Church explains.

 

The impact of Champions Church extends far beyond its gates. The team visits Foodbank Queensland four times a week to keep shelves stocked and ensure no one in the community goes without. In response to the recent ex-tropical cyclone that caused flooding and power outages, they distributed over 130 emergency hampers to community members in need. 

They also support Redlands Special School, providing 60 FareShare meals every week to students in need. The community reach is vast, with people travelling from Russell Island, Redlands and even Beaudesert to find support, meals and connections. 

One of the most striking aspects of Champions Church is the commitment to treating everyone with dignity and care. They extend a helping hand as far as they can to provide support to their community, old and new. “We had one gentleman, just recently out of incarceration, walk in and said, ‘I’ve got $5 to my name, what can you do for me?’ He walked out with a massive trolley, and that’s why we do what we do. That’s what we exist to do,” Brendan shares. 

As the need continues to grow, Champions Church is working alongside the community and local governments to expand its facilities. Their vision is to provide not just food, but counselling services and spaces where people can gather, connect and support one another. Brendan said simply, “We just want to help more people.” 

Steve, a dedicated volunteer, sees firsthand how the community is changing. “We see two to three new families come in most weeks, mostly through word of mouth.” He’s also noticed a shift in who is seeking help. “First off, it was those driving old bombs. This is all they could afford. As the cost-of-living pressure has gone up, we’ve had some come in Mercedes. That’s the car they’ve had for years.” He adds, “and so they come in, and we have got to reassure them that what is here is for them. It’s for everyone.” 

Many of those who come through Champions Church are learning how to stretch their resources. “A lot of them are coming through and working out how to make the food spread further,” Steve shares. And for many, just having a place to turn to makes all the difference. “Some of them come in and say, ‘I’m so thankful you’re here.’ Wow. We are just providing a service for you.” 

At its core, Champions Church is about more than food – it’s about community, dignity and care. Whether through a bag of groceries, a shared meal or a simple conversation over coffee, they continue to lift people up, one act of kindness at a time.         

Sharing food and empowering the community of Ipswich and surrounds is at the heart of Goodness Enterprises. Whether it’s cooking thousands of meals each week, assembling hampers for families or distributing fresh produce to those in need, the goal is the same – making sure no one goes hungry and create opportunities for goodness.

Every inch of Goodness Enterprises is alive with energy. In the kitchen, volunteers and trainees are busy preparing thousands of meals, ensuring no food goes to waste. The co-op shelves are restocked as fast as they are emptied, providing families with affordable groceries. Outside, a team works on an ambitious conservation project, restoring a former koala corridor that had been lost to development. 

“It’s massive what we are doing here,” Greg, General Manager at Goodness Enterprises shares, gesturing to the growing operation, “and that is why we need whatever help we can get.”

The centre runs like a well-oiled machine, but behind the efficiency is a constant battle to stretch every dollar. “We’re always trying to work out how we can make one dollar turn into ten,” Greg explains. “That’s the attitude. If we sell meals through the kitchen, that’s money we can put back into food for the co-op. It’s about making it work for as many people as possible.” 

With expansion plans already in action, they hope to increase their capacity to store food to be able to support more people in their community. “We don’t refuse donations because you never know what you’ll get. We take everything, sort through it, and find a way to use it,” he shares. Through great partnerships with local producers, Foodbank Queensland, local farmers and other partners, Goodness Enterprises has created a circular system to help people.

Demand continues to rise. “The number of people coming through continues to grow, and the diversity of those seeking help is increasing.” Families and communities who have never sought food relief before are now feeling the pinch of the rising cost of groceries and food. The centre operates a membership-based co-op, offering lifetime access to affordable groceries for just $15. “Giving people dignity and choice is a core part of what we do,” says Greg.

Beyond food relief, Goodness Enterprises transforms lives through training programs. “We have five different Certificate I programs that we offer, running twice a year to help long-term unemployed people and young people gain skills and experience.” Their work-for-skills program boasts an 86% success rate in helping trainees secure jobs – well above the industry standard of 55%. Greg shares, “Our goal is not just to feed people, but to give them purpose.”

The energy and enthusiasm to create more goodness is undeniable. Growth and finding more ways to assist their community define the centre’s daily operations, with every effort focused on helping more people in need. For their whole team, the mission is clear. “We empower people for life – socially, economically, environmentally and spiritually.” 

In the heart of Rochdale in Brisbane lies a vibrant home with fish painted on the walls; within it, an extraordinary organisation works tirelessly to change lives and offer hope to those in need. Fishers of Men, driven by faith, love and compassion, has been a beacon of light for the homeless and vulnerable, serving meals and providing rehabilitation services to those seeking a fresh start. Every corner of this humble home radiates care, from the welcoming smiles of the team to the thoughtfully prepared meals. Founding Director Branwen reflects on the power of their work, “sometimes they say the meal they get from us is the best meal they get all week.” They offer more than a nourishing meal. For those who pass through their doors or meet their outreach team on the streets, these meals are an entry point to something far greater; a new chapter, a fresh start, and a chance to rebuild.

Image: Branwen, founding director of Fishers of Men with Katherine from Foodbank Queensland stirring 2 large pots ready for Wednesday night outreach to Brisbane City and Logan.

Every Wednesday and Sunday night, Fishers of Men takes to the streets of Brisbane and Logan, serving 500 meals to those in need. What started as a small operation pre-Covid, serving 60 meals on a Sunday and 40 meals midweek, has expanded exponentially. “When Covid hit, we couldn’t bring people here for food anymore,” Branwen recalls. “We started taking it to the streets. It grew to 100, then 200, and then 300 meals.”

Each meal marks the beginning of a potential transformation. “The meal is just the start. It’s the ‘hey, do you want help?’ And then if they want help, we’ve got houses that we can move them into.”

Fishers of Men isn’t just about feeding people. They offer housing and a structured six-month rehabilitation program to those ready to reset. During this time, they connect with their peers and their faith while cooking meals for their community. After completing the initial program, they transition to a second stage where they regain and rebuild their independence.

“For those who go from here successfully, they become world changers,” says Branwen. “It changes them, and it also changes the world around them – the influence they have.” This transformative process is full circle; individuals who complete the program often return to mentor and support others, becoming an integral part of the Fishers of Men community.

Healthy and nutritious meals wouldn’t be possible without partnerships and community support. Foodbank Queensland plays a curial role, supplying essential items like protein, sauces and food parcels. Branwen shared her appreciation, “We really appreciate the chicken, we used to spend so much money on chicken and protein.” A new food-safe truck, funded through grants, has further enhanced their operation, allowing them to cook and transport meals more efficiently.

Fishers of Men embodies a beautiful cycle of giving. From cooking meals to running car washes on Saturdays to raise funds, the organisation creates opportunities for those in recovery to give back. They even help participants with payment of fines and financial management, ensuring they leave the program with a lighter financial burden and a clearer path forward.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Fishers of Men. Long-time supporters like Peter and Karn who pick up produce from Foodbank Queensland, have been with the organisation for over 20 years, keeping their mission alive. But more hands are always needed. “We need volunteers to go out on the street and give out meals and also support the men in housing as they recover,” Branwen says. They also call for professional services such as social workers, nurses, counselors and chaplains, to provide the specalised care that many participants need.

The Fishers of Men story is one of faith, determination and community. With the support of Foodbank Queensland, countless volunteers and other donors, they are not only feeding hungry Queenslanders but changing lives. As Branwen puts it. “For those who come through the program, it’s not just about their recovery – they get the help they need and then they are helping others.”