Foodbank Queensland rescues 22 million meals in 2021 

As demand for food relief rises, so too does the challenge of rescuing and sourcing enough food to ensure a nutritious meal is within reach for all Queenslanders in need. 

We believe everyone deserve access to good quality food, all year round. However, whilst families are going hungry, sadly, millions of kilograms of food are wasted every year due to oversupply, labour shortages, and transport challenges. 

That’s why we work closely with hundreds of farmers, retailers and manufacturers, from large corporations to local business, to help reduce food waste and get essential food and groceries to Queenslanders who need it most. 

In 2021, our incredible Food Donors provided enough food and groceries to fill more than 2.4 million shopping bags. Enough to create 22 million meals for people doing it tough! 

Taylor Family Produce is one of our very generous Queensland growers donating fresh produce to ensure healthy and nutritious food gets to communities that need it most. Located in the Granite Belt region of Amiens, they donate a variety of leafy vegetables, including lettuce and silverbeet. 

Ray Taylor, Managing Director of Taylor Family Produce, said “When product is rejected or low value in the markets, we would prefer the product to go where it can help those in need rather than being wasted.” 

Bob McMillan, Foodbank Queensland Food Supply Manager, said Foodbank was proud to work with so many generous Food Donors to help feed hungry families, reduce waste and protect our environment.   

“Our Food Donors help to ensure that we can get a consistent supply of fresh food and essential groceries to Queensland families in need, whilst reducing food waste.  

“Thanks to our farming communities, more than 35% of all groceries rescued by Foodbank Queensland each year are fresh fruit and vegetables from more than seven farming regions in Queensland,” he said. 

To all of our wonderful Food Donors, thank you for your continued support and for helping us feed the thousands of families who rely on us every week.  

If you’re in the food industry and are interested in becoming a food donor, please click here.  

To see Foodbank Queensland’s 2021 Food Partners, click here.  

Nexus Care provides hope to those experiencing hunger in Brisbane

Nexus Care is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 300 Member Charities providing vital support to those most in need in the north Brisbane community. 

The team at Nexus Care support Queenslanders experiencing hunger through their Fresh Start Food Program and School Breakfast Program. Developed by a nutritionist, the Fresh Start Food Program offers healthy, substantial food parcels to anyone experiencing hardship. The parcels contain quality, nutritious non-perishable items, a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bread, and dairy products and are designed to create several meals to support a household.  

In 2021 Nexus Care provided over 3,185 food parcels, which is equivalent to 127,400 meals in the year through their Fresh Start Food Program. 

Suki O’Dea, Nexus Care Community Programs Coordinator, said they were passionate about giving dignity, hope and a fresh start to each person that came through their doors.  

“The heart of Nexus Care is to alleviate poverty in our community. 

“Foodbank is one of our key partnerships – We include four kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables in each food parcel and would be unable to reach that target without our twice-weekly visits to Foodbank for quality fresh produce,” she said. 

With the support of Foodbank Queensland, Nexus Care also runs a School Breakfast Program in five local schools, providing a nutritious breakfast to approximately 500 children a week. 

Suki said their School Breakfast Program offered students a selection of milk, fruit, yoghurt and hot items such as toasties and pancakes.  

“We would be unable to run our Brekky Clubs without the food provided by Foodbank,” Suki said. 

“Each Monday we collect 65kg of bananas for this program and without fail, every week I have the admin staff from one primary school tell me that their students say the Foodbank bananas are the best they have ever tasted. And they are very adamant about that – nothing tastes better than a Foodbank banana!  

“At this school, the bananas are delivered early on a Tuesday morning and available from the office all week, often providing not only a breakfast, but also a lunch and sometimes afternoon tea as well,” she said. 

As we see COVID-19 case numbers increase once again in the community, many of our frontline Member Charities are struggling to meet the rising need for food relief in Queensland. Sadly, the impacts of the pandemic are making it harder for many families to put food on the table, with many Queenslanders reaching out for help for the very first time.  

Suki said Christmas was a particularly busy time for Nexus Care, providing food hampers to 420 Brisbane families in immense hardship as well as supporting families and partner organisations with 730 Christmas Treat hampers. 

“What worked was the diversity of fresh produce from Foodbank that we could not have afforded to buy from our local shop. The quality and quantity of fruit and vegetables we collected from Foodbank was considerable and made a huge difference to our Christmas food parcels,” she said. 

One of Nexus Care’s guests left this note after receiving a Christmas food hamper: 

“I wanted to write to you to say a big thank you for the food parcel, the wonderful present for my son and helping out with my rent. I was so sick with worry and anxiety due to the horrible situation I am in and to know that my 9-year-old will now have a really beautiful Christmas is amazing. The work you all do is wonderful and while I never thought I would have to use your services, I am forever grateful you are there to provide for all those in need. Thank you.” – Anonymous 

At Nexus Care, COVID-19 has seen the introduction of several new programs for people from non-English speaking and other backgrounds.  

Suki said they run free classes designed to strengthen English language skills needed for finding and securing a job.  “We also run a free personalised job-assistance program to assist people find meaningful employment. What better way to alleviate hunger than by securing worthwhile employment,” she said. 

In partnership with Fareshare, Foodbank Queensland also supports Nexus Care by providing ready-to-eat meals. 

Suki said knowing there’s at least one nutritious meal a day is one less problem to solve for many people under significant stress. 

“Fareshare meals have allowed us to customise our food relief provision to better meet the needs of our guests. Not everyone has access to suitable cooking facilities or the ability to be able to cook, so Fareshare is a wonderful inclusion to our program,” she said. 

“George is a solo parent of three young children. He has a brain injury as well as managing mental health issues and because of this, needs meals that require minimal preparation and shortened cooking times. The first time we offered him Fareshare meals, the relief on his face was so obvious and he was ever so grateful. We had initially included a leg of pork in his food parcel, thinking that this would be a great treat for the family. He said no and explained that it would be too overwhelming for him and he just couldn’t manage it. The Fareshare meals allow him to feed the family well without the angst involved with cooking a more substantial meal.” 

“We are so grateful for the amazing work of Foodbank, and it is a privilege to partner together. Thanks for being our pantry!” Suki said.  

Foodbank Queensland is delighted to have been working with Nexus Care for more than 10 years to help give food and hope to families in Brisbane facing tough times.  

If you are a Queensland charity,  Foodbank Queensland membership is a great way to support your food relief projects, offering your organisation a reliable source of food and groceries all year round.

If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver. 

Serious illness leaves single dad Trent struggling to feed his young kids.

Single father Trent has three young children under eight to feed: Evie, Finn, and Georgie.

When Trent and his partner separated, they had shared custody of their children. But two years ago, when the kids were no longer safe to stay with their mother, due to her substance abuse and violence, Trent took sole custody.

Raising three kids on your own is never easy, but Trent is also battling a serious illness and struggles to meet the family’s medical costs and living expenses, which continue to rise as the kids get older. He can hardly afford to put food on the table.

“I feel like such a failure. Even though I’m doing everything I can to give my kids the best life possible. But with my disability and being a single dad that relies on government support, it’s honestly tough to make ends meet.” – Trent

Trent loves his kids and is trying his best… but week after week, he’s found it difficult just to afford enough food to put on the table.

“I’ve had to tighten up the budget, I can’t do it anymore. The kids were used to getting their little treats, but now they get sad because I can’t afford them… They do understand a little bit, though.”

After years of struggling to make ends meet, Trent reached out to one of Foodbank Queensland’s local Member Charities.

“Receiving a Foodbank Hamper is awesome. I was overwhelmed by how much was in them… it made a really good impact in our life.”

Trent now has more energy to play with his kids and can help them learn to enjoy veggies and other nutritious ingredients.

“Because of the hampers, Evie eats her veggies now. I have to mash it all up into a big, mashed pile, like mashed potato and all that, but she eats her vegetables!”

With the certainty of fresh fruit and vegetables and essential groceries in the pantry, Trent can afford to pay for other living expenses and can sometimes buy those little extras that mean so much to Evie, Finn, and Georgie.

“Thanks to Foodbank, I’ve realised it’s okay to ask for help… especially for single mums, single dads, grandparents. There are so many less fortunate people out there, that do need help. Every single little donation to Foodbank all helps out in the end.” – Trent

Trent’s family is just one of many in Queensland struggling to find enough to eat right now.

Your generosity will help families like Trent’s receive the essential groceries they need to get back on their feet.

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to a family doing it tough. Thank you for making a difference.

Lockyer Valley Community Provides Vital Support To People In Need

Many Queenslanders are dealing with the anguish and despair of not knowing where their next meal will come from, with regional communities like Lockyer Valley having been hit hard by job losses, business closures and lockdowns.

However, the Lockyer Valley community are working together, from local breakfast clubs to bulk food donations, to ensure struggling families receive the support they need to get back on their feet.

The impacts of COVID-19 have placed extreme pressures on families, and with many children going to school without breakfast or lunch, Foodbank’s School Breakfast Program is vital.

In the Lockyer Valley Region, Foodbank Queensland currently provides fresh fruit, bread, milk and cereal to 10 schools.

With the support of our local Member Charity, ADRA Lockyer Food Pantry Gatton, these schools can run breakfast clubs all year round to help ensure children receive the healthy breakfasts they need to grow, learn and thrive.

Doug Espie, Lockyer District State High School Chaplain said “Our school has been incredibly blessed by the work of Foodbank. Each week we provide breakfast for hundreds of students who may otherwise miss out. The need is significant, and the difference is tangible. We can’t thank you enough for the simple yet powerful difference that Foodbank has made to our school.”

Our mission is to make sure that all Queensland children, regardless of their circumstances, have an equal start in life. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it sets children up to concentrate, learn and be at their best. That’s why Foodbank Queensland works closely with schools like Lockyer District State School to provide more than 3.3 million school breakfast meals across the state every year. 

Foodbank Queensland is working tirelessly to get food out to schools and front-line charities across the state, but we couldn’t do it without the support of our generous Food Donors.  

For over 10 years, local farmers from the Lockyer Valley Region have generously donated fresh fruit and vegetables, including lettuce, tomato, potato, pumpkin, garlic, cabbage, carrot, turnip, onion, and broccoli, to Foodbank Queensland to help people in need. 

Bob McMillan, Foodbank Queensland Food Supply Manager, said Foodbank was proud to work with growers in the Lockyer Valley to rescue food, reduce waste and fight hunger.  

“Since this time last year, our Food Donors in the Lockyer Valley region have donated enough food to help us distribute 578,000 meals to people in need across Queensland. 

“With many growers across Queensland having been impacted by the events of last year, this is an incredibly generous donation that has gone a long way to helping Queenslanders in crisis,” Bob said 

Together we can help our friends and neighbours who are struggling to make ends meet. 

If  you’re in the food industry and are interested in becoming a food donor, please click here. 

To learn more about Foodbank’s School Breakfast Program, click here. 

Hands and Feet joins Foodbank in the fight against hunger in Brisbane

Hands and Feet is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 300 Member Charities providing essential groceries to support people in need.  

After recently opening its first food relief service in Brisbane and partnering with Foodbank in March 2021, Hands and Feet is now helping approximately 90 people every week with free food and groceries and continues to expand its outreach to more communities across Brisbane.  

Every week, Hands and Feet distributes food to local churches that offer food assistance from their premises. The churches choose a day and time that suits them best and arrange for a number of their volunteers to help distribute the food. 

David Graham, Hands and Feet Brisbane Manager, said people in need were freely offered a small box or bag with a variety of food and essentials to take home. 

“We help anyone that is doing it tough and needing some help to have something to eat,” David said. 

“One Mum recently told us that she struggles to find sufficient nutritious food for her family of eight children and was incredibly grateful to have access to support on weeks when she couldn’t make ends meet. 

“The food from Foodbank makes up between 65% and 70% of the food we are able to give out to help Queenslanders doing it tough. 

“Thank you Foodbank Queensland for partnering with Hands and Feet and making it possible for us to support Queensland families that need help.” 

If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver. 

If you are a Queensland charity, Foodbank Queensland membership is a great way to support your food relief projects, offering your organisation a reliable source of food and groceries all year round.

Jeanette was surviving on her children’s leftover food scraps.

Jeanette was a stay-at-home mum, living a comfortable middle-class lifestyle in Logan, when everything changed overnight. Very soon, Jeanette was terrified and unwell. She was going hungry.  

Mum-of-four Jeanette and her partner owned a thriving martial arts business. They never had to struggle. Then, one day, Jeanette’s partner unexpectedly said he was leaving for another woman. He froze her out of their business and took all the money from their shared account.  

Having spent the last decade as a full-time parent, Jeanette had limited job training and prospects. Her ex was now refusing to pay child support. She had no idea how she would provide for her four children, ages from 7 to 20, completely on her own.  

“My children were devastated. They didn’t understand. We had to give our family dog away because we couldn’t afford to feed him. It was the worst feeling.” – Jeanette  

Jeanette’s rent combined with car loan repayments was more than she could afford, but she had no choice. Then the family received more terrible news. Her eight-year-old son, Patterson, was diagnosed with a rare cancer. He needed several months of life-saving treatment. It was a heartbreaking, overwhelming time, made worse as Jeanette struggled to feed her family.  

To keep dinner on the table, Jeanette would carefully plan her shopping list, to the last cent. She’d always served her kids fruit and vegetables. But her low single income did not cover the healthy foods growing kids need. “Dinner was usually built around frozen vegetables and two-minute noodles.” – Jeanette 

So that her kids didn’t go hungry, Jeanette would go without proper meals, often for a week at a time. She’d try to hide her hunger – especially from her children.  

“I’d have swigs of milk, a slice of bread, or drink lots of water to stay full. Whatever the kids didn’t eat after dinner, if there were peas or anything on their plates, I’d just scoff them down. I was sick and depressed.”   – Jeanette 

At the scariest time in her life, Jeanette got thrown a lifeline. A friend who knew her struggles said that a Foodbank Member Charity could provide her with food essentials. “From that moment, I felt this huge relief: I knew I would eat that night,” she says.  

Because of Foodbank supporters like you, later that day Jeanette went home with a box of fruit and vegetables, cheese, butter, canned goods, pasta, and even some sausages.  

“The kids thought it was Christmas! From that moment, I felt this huge relief. I knew we would eat well that night. Over the next 18 months, I was grateful to receive Foodbank’s support while I got back on my feet. I could make good home-cooked meals for my kids, like tuna mornay and apricot chicken.” – Jeanette 

Something relatively simple – but vital – like having regular meals was life-changing for Jeanette. Soon, her physical and mental health improved with proper nutrition. She gained strength and determination to study and worked towards a new career. Today she is making a difference as a Carer, to people with major spinal injuries. In some more great news, Patterson is in remission from cancer and Jeanette can afford to feed him healthy food that keeps him feeling great.  

“Being able to eat properly is one of the most important things in life. Support from Foodbank meant I could put time and money aside to study for a career that lets me support my family. Today I can focus on being a positive parent and moving forward with my career. If my children see me doing that, they will want the same.” – Jeanette 

In a touching end to a very tough time, Jeanette’ family has also gained a wriggly, furry family member. Their dog Kobe is a source of joy. He reminds Jeanette how far she has come since she couldn’t afford to feed herself, let alone a pet. 

“I’ve always wanted to say thank you to Foodbank supporters for playing a big role in my journey. Many single parents know what it’s like to go hungry like I did to keep their children fed. If it wasn’t for Foodbank I don’t know how I could have kept going.” – Jeanette 

Your generosity will help families like Jeanette’s receive the essential groceries they need to get back on their feet.  

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to someone facing hunger like Jeanette. Thank you for making a difference. 

Brisbane Markets helps provide 590,400 meals to people facing hunger

Brisbane Markets Limited is one of Foodbank Queensland’s valued partners helping us supply nutritious food to hungry Queenslanders.

Working together, more than 328,000 kilograms of fresh food is collected by Foodbank Queensland at Brisbane Markets each year and distributed to Queenslanders in need. That’s the equivalent of more than 590,400 meals to help hungry Queenslanders put food on the table.

Luke Leeson, Communication Manager at Brisbane Markets, said as Queensland’s only central fruit and vegetable market, the Brisbane Produce Market was the state’s most important centre for the marketing and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables.

“The Brisbane Markets forms a vital link in the supply chain between growers of fresh produce and over 800 registered buyers, including independent supermarkets, retailers, food processors, secondary wholesalers and the food service industry.”

“More than 700 million kilograms of fresh produce, valued at $2 billion, passes through the Brisbane Markets every year,” Luke said.

With the help of Brisbane Markets, many wholesalers donate to Foodbank Queensland, some of which have been donating for more than 15 years to help fight hunger across the state.

Foodbank Queensland Food Supply Manager, said Foodbank was proud to work with Brisbane Markets to rescue food, reduce waste, and fight hunger.

“Sadly, one in five people in our community, are in crisis at some point each year, dealing with the anguish and despair of not knowing where the next meal will come from. Every food donation, big or small, makes a very real difference to people suffering from hunger.”

“Donating surplus or imperfect food enables Brisbane Markets wholesalers to directly provide benefits to people who are living in disadvantaged circumstances whilst having a positive impact on the environment.”

Foodbank works closely with retailers, farmers and manufacturers throughout Australia who donate fresh, ambient, chilled and frozen food, as well as personal care and household items to support people in need.

Our wonderful food donors help us ensure that our shelves are never empty, and our Members can continue distributing food across Queensland to those who need it most. A big thank you to all of our food donors for your continued generosity.

If you’re in the food industry and are interested in becoming a food donor, please click here.

Harvest Rain Christian Care provides vital food relief across Ipswich region

Harvest Rain Christian Care is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 250 Member Charities focused on assisting disadvantaged people and people experiencing crisis from across the Ipswich and surrounding regions – primarily through the provision of food support.

The community charity’s support programs, which all operate from the Tivoli Drive In, assist approximately 60,000 people from across the Ipswich region.

Fred Muys, Harvest Rain Christian Care Executive Director, said he was grateful to have been receiving food from Foodbank Queensland since 2007 to help Harvest Rain Christian Care grow its vital food relief programs.

“We operate a Community Food Co-op which provides battlers with the opportunity to source groceries and other items for a nominal handling fee, plus options to receive free bakery, dairy and fresh produce,” Fred explains.

“We also operate a community kitchen which produces more than 2,500 wholesome pre-cooked and frozen meals every week for distribution to needy families – both through our own agency and through other charities and community groups across the region,” he said.

Their frozen meals project also supports unemployed youth by offering employment and work skills training opportunities in hospitality, where trainees work in a commercial grade kitchen to produce nutritious meals, from the food provided by Foodbank, to support people in need.

Since COVID-19, the team at Harvest Rain Christian Care have commenced a home delivery service to support the increasing number of people experiencing hardship, including the elderly and many who are unable to access support due to lockdowns and isolation.

Harvest Rain Christian Care is sadly just one of many food relief charities who have seen an increase in demand, with charities in Ipswich currently supporting, on average, double the number of people on a weekly basis, compared to February last year prior to COVID-19 lockdowns.

If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver.

If you are a Queensland charity, Foodbank Queensland membership is a great way to support your food relief projects, offering your organisation a reliable source of food and groceries all year round.

Ashley had to quickly find a way to feed
her four children.

A year marred by personal anguish, housing insecurity and the pandemic left Ashley and her four kids eating below the poverty line.

Supporting four kids, aged 8, 7, 5 and 2, has always been tough, but Ashley, 28, has managed to scrape by. Then last year, the young mum from Warwick faced a series of major challenges that turned her life upside down.

Sadly, Ashley’s relationship with her partner had broken down. He continued to live in the house but would not contribute, so Ashley had to cover food and bills for the family alone. Then the pandemic hit, and jobs dried up in Warwick. There was little chance of finding work. In a final blow, the house Ashley rented was sold and she had to move out – but there were no other homes in her budget.

“I’m a strong person and it takes a lot for me to get upset, but here I was trying to cover all food, bills, fuel and school costs on my own, with four kids under eight. There were times I’d have to borrow meat, milk or bread off people I knew, just to get us through. It was really hard.” – Ashley

To ensure her kids were fed, Ashley would do a careful fortnightly shop to stretch her money as far as she could. She knew healthy foods like fruit and vegetables were critical for her kids’ wellbeing, but with her changing circumstances, many staples were now out of reach. Things were so bad that Ashley’s two eldest kids would sometimes go to school with just an apple to eat. Ashley herself was meant to follow a special diet to manage Crohn’s disease, but she could not even afford the most basic of meals.

“Some nights, if there wasn’t enough dinner I would go without or have a sandwich after the kids went to bed.” – Ashley

Then one day, just before Christmas, things reached a new low. After paying her bills, Ashley discovered she had only $100 left to feed her family for the next two weeks.

In desperation, she went straight to her local church to ask for help. Thanks to generous people like you and Foodbank’s Member Charities, Ashley could be offered a Foodbank hamper in her crisis.

With so much going on, Ashley is overjoyed to know that in weeks when money is scarce, a Foodbank hamper can fill four young bellies. In it, she can find the staples to make a nutritious and filling spaghetti bolognaise, or a stir fry that she and all the kids enjoy.

“Right now, I am doing everything on my own and it’s hard to ask for help. When I did ask, Foodbank helped in a big way. Without that help, I’d still have to ask people I know to borrow food, so this has made a big difference – thank you.” – Ashley

Many regional towns like Warwick are still reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic, including joblessness and housing instability. For those families already eating close to the poverty line like Ashley’s, your support has never been more vital.

Your generosity will help families like Ashley’s receive the essential groceries they need to get back on their feet. Thank you for making a difference.

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to someone facing hunger like Ashley.