Hunger in the country is a big problem

 

Sunday 14 October: Today the iconic Big Banana on Australia’s east coast will be shrouded in black in a bold act aimed at drawing attention to our country’s big hunger problem.

Foodbank is taking this extraordinary step to mark the release of its annual Foodbank Hunger Report which reveals that more and more everyday Australians, particularly in rural and regional areas, are going hungry.

“Our country loves its big food icons – the Big Pineapple, the Big Prawn, the Big Lobster, but we have a big food problem that needs to be addressed – hunger in the country,” Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey, said today.  “Our Foodbank Hunger Report 2018 confirms that 1.5 million Australians in regional and remote areas have experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, which makes country dwellers a third (33%) more likely to be hungry than their city counterparts. This is even before the full effects of the current drought are factored in.”

The report exposes that, overall, 4 million Australians (18% of the population) have experienced some form of food insecurity in the past 12 months with 76% of these regularly eating less than they need because they lack the money or resources to obtain food.

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey, says despite Foodbank providing food for 710,000 Australians every month, it is struggling to meet the demand.

“Half of all our charity agencies report an increase in the number of people seeking much needed food assistance, and only 36% of charities say they are meeting the full needs of the people they assist.

“Food insecurity is a growing problem which is affecting everyday Australians both in the cities and in the bush. We are doing our very best to address this problem, but we need support from our government and our community to help these vulnerable Aussies in need.”

The public can help Foodbank tackle this big problem by joining the growing movement on social media using the hashtags #BigProblem and #ZeroHunger, donating at www.foodbank.org.au or asking their local Federal Member of Parliament what they are doing to address food insecurity in Australia.

New hamper program helping keep hope alive for those escaping homelessness

14 June 2018

People entering crisis accommodation will be supported by a new partnership between Foodbank Victoria and Launch Housing, one of Melbourne’s leading homelessness organisations.

With rates of homelessness and waiting lists for public housing at an all-time high, the new Essential Pantry Program will help relieve pressure on people transitioning into 600 of Launch Housing’s crisis accommodation sites.

“It’s the small things that can really make a difference. Moving into crisis accommodation and being supplied with an essential hamper makes you feel like somebody cares. It’s these things that help keep hope alive,” said Emma, a former recipient of Launch Housing services.

New tenants will receive hampers filled with personal hygiene items, generously donated by Foodbank partner Asaleo Care, and staple food items sourced by Foodbank. Each hamper is valued at $245.

“It’s clear that the housing crisis is hitting people hard. With the exponential increase in housing prices and the decrease in affordable and appropriate accommodation, many families and individuals are being forced into homelessness and crisis housing,” said Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara.

Last month Launch Housing released its Australian Homelessness Monitor, highlighting the scope of the housing problem. Between 2011 and 2016, homelessness increased by 14 per cent and rough sleeping by 20 per cent in Australia. In Victoria, almost 25,000 people were homeless on Census night in 2016.

Last week, a parliamentary inquiry revealed 82,000 people, including 25,000 children, are on the waiting list for public housing in Victoria.

“The Essential Pantry program is a targeted approach to help alleviate some of the worry and financial pressure for people transitioning into temporary accommodation – whether due to being priced out of the rental market or fleeing a dangerous or unstable home life,” Mr McNamara said.

“Over the next 12 months we hope to prove the benefits of the program so it can be rolled out more widely.”

Heather Holst, Acting CEO of Launch Housing, welcomed the partnership.

“Thanks to Foodbank and Asaleo Care, these hampers of food and personal products will go a long way in welcoming our clients into their new homes in the coming year,” she said.

“Sadly, lower income households are at a greater risk of experiencing poverty as housing prices and the cost of living — particularly food — continues to rise. This partnership means that new tenants in all our transitional and long-term housing, will have a solid starting point in their next chapter.”

To kick off the program, volunteers from Asaleo Care will pack the hygiene hampers, including sanitary items, nappies, toilet paper and other necessities that are costly yet vital, at the Foodbank Victoria warehouse on June 14.

“Asaleo Care makes many of the essential products people use every day in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Our popular products like Sorbent, Libra, Handee Ultra and Deeko can be found in every household. Most of us don’t think twice about being able to buy them,” said Sid Takla, Interim CEO, Asaleo Care.

“But not everyone. For some, access to food, clothing and shelter is a major struggle – anything more is out of reach. That’s why we’ve joined with Launch Housing through Foodbank to help make it easier for hygiene, health and wellbeing to be part of everyday life for everyone. Taking care is at the heart of what we do. We’re very proud to be a leading supporter of this initiative.”

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333 

Volunteers backbone to fighting hunger, but more are needed

18 May 2018

 
Feeding hungry Victorians is a huge undertaking – and one that is largely reliant on volunteers.

Ahead of National Volunteer Week (21-27 May), Foodbank Victoria – the oldest and largest provider of emergency food relief – has released an online map to help link its charity partners with potential volunteers.

Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara said tens of thousands of Victorians would go hungry without the generosity of individuals motivated to make a positive contribution to their community.

“At Foodbank we’re fortunate to have up to 30 volunteers a day helping in our warehouse. Without them we simply wouldn’t be able to distribute the volume of food we do – the equivalent of one million meals each month,” he said.

“We’re lucky to have such a solid base of volunteers. However we know many of our charity partners all around Victoria are desperate for more hands to help carry out their vital work.”

A recent survey of Foodbank’s 400+ charity partners in Victoria revealed 40 per cent relied on volunteers to deliver their food relief programs (such as community pantries and soup kitchens) and 30 per cent were in need of more volunteers.

The map at lists Foodbank charity partners currently seeking volunteers. From Warrnambool to Wodonga to Orbost and everywhere in between, Mr McNamara encouraged people to consider volunteering at a local charity.

“There are a lot of amazing individuals out there who are the backbone of many charities, and the social services sector generally. But with one in five children in Australia going hungry each year, the pressure on charities to do more is increasing.”

The map also lists state primary schools who need additional help to run their School Breakfast Clubs. Foodbank Victoria, in partnership with the Victorian Government, provides up to 50,000 breakfasts a week through the program. Volunteers are required for an hour before school to help set-up breakfast and socialise with the students.

Last year, over 2000 volunteers donated almost 25,000 hours of their time at Foodbank’s Yarraville warehouse.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Kimberley Nichols, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8309
Alexa Viani, Foodbank Victoria: 03 9362 8333 

15 April 2018 – Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation, Foodbank, has revealed that it is more likely for a child in Australia to go hungry than an adult in 2018.

This morning, Foodbank released its first ever research report on the prevalence of child hunger in Australia. Entitled Rumbling Tummies, the report found that while 15% of Australian adults have experienced food insecurity in the last year, more than 1 in 5 children in Australia (22%) have experienced food insecurity over the same period.

Foodbank found hunger amongst Australian kids is more common than once imagined, with 1 in 3 parents living in food insecure homes saying their children go hungry at least once a month. Meanwhile, at least once a week, 18% of food insecure children go to school without eating breakfast, 15% go to school without a packed lunch or lunch money and 11% go to bed without eating dinner.

With data collated from more than a thousand Australian parents with children under the age of 15, Foodbank uncovered that the major factor driving the growing need for hunger relief in Australia is the rising cost of living. An unexpected bill or expense (52%) and house payments (38%) are two of the most prominent causes of food insecurity in homes with children under 15, the organisation found.

Foodbank Australia’s CEO, Brianna Casey, said, “It is both heartbreaking and unacceptable to hear that children are going hungry anywhere in the world, let alone in Australia. As the cost of living continues to rise, parents are really feeling the strain of these financial pressures on their household budgets, forcing some to make impossible decisions for their families. Nine out of ten of these parents tell us that they have skipped meals so their children can have food on their plates, with 36% skipping meals on a weekly basis.”

Foodbank provides food for over 652,000 people a month, however, their front-line charity partners report that demand for food relief has increased by 10% in the last year. Furthermore, they are forced to turn away 65,000 people every month due to lack of food.

“As a community, we might be excused for not hearing one child’s stomach rumbling, but we simply cannot ignore the sound of thousands of children going hungry in Australia each day,” said Casey.

“If we want all our children to thrive and succeed, we can’t let their hunger go unheard. Whether you are from corporate Australia, government, or someone who believes in a better Australia, we really do owe it to these children to ensure Foodbank can get more food to the most vulnerable in our community,” Casey concluded.