Emily’s Story

Emily fled a violent home – and thanks to the food you provide, she won’t be forced to return.

Imagine having to choose between living with the constant threat of violence, or going hungry.

Emily* was living in fear of her long-term partner. In the five years they’d been together, he’d cut her off from her friends and family and she had no freedom or independence.

“I had no car and no income of my own and he had access to all my social media passwords. There was food… but it was all food he liked. I was too frightened to eat much and when I did, I’d sneak the food.”

Emily was facing an impossible choice. If she stayed, her life was at risk. But if she left, she’d have no home, no belongings and no food. Then one night, soon after she turned 50, Emily’s partner came home and used physical violence against her. The next morning, he acted like nothing had happened.

“He got up and kissed me before he went to work,” she recalls. “After he left, I snapped. I thought; ‘Hang on, I can’t do this anymore’.”

Emily grabbed a bag and packed a few items of clothing. Without a cent to her name, she fled to the bus stop, determined to escape.

“I’ll never forget that wonderful bus driver,” she says. “He took one look at my bruised face, my tears and my suitcase and said: ‘Come on, I’ll take you to the train station’.”

Emily felt so relieved she’d escaped, but she now had to rebuild her life from scratch. In desperation, she called an old friend who helped her find lodgings with a couple who lived two hours away by train.

It was an amazing feeling to have a safe place to sleep from that day on. But as Emily couldn’t contribute any money to the household, she felt guilty eating the couple’s food – especially with the skyrocketing cost of groceries.

So, Emily hopped online to see if there was a place where she could get some basic food items to cook meals of her own. She soon discovered a local Member Charity. This Foodbank Queensland charity partner provides food hampers to those doing it tough. Emily didn’t know it yet, but she was about to get a second chance at life.

“Walking into the food pantry is one of the most beautiful and vivid memories of my life. A young lady said to me ‘Can I help you?’ and I burst into tears – I lost it.”

The kind-hearted volunteer offered Emily a hamper filled with food essentials all people need. The food had been freely provided by Foodbank Queensland, thanks to your amazing support. Emily was astonished as she went through the hamper. There was so much – baked beans, bread, breakfast cereal, rice, fruit and vegetables.

“I was able to go home to my friends’ house with food and feel like I was contributing. One of the first things I made was a soup in the slow cooker. It made my life so much better that I could eat well. The hamper lasted me a week. I was so grateful for the quality of it.”

Three months after Emily escaped her violent partner, she was grateful she could still access food hampers as she took steps to regain her independence. She’d begun doing short courses to prepare for employment. Emily’s confidence was building. So, she asked if she could volunteer at the food pantry for work experience. It was a way to repay the life-changing food she’d received, thanks to you!

With cost-of-living soaring, more people than ever like Emily are struggling to put food on the table. This includes families, older women and even those with jobs. Many Queenslanders are struggling to survive and seeking help for the first time. When they come into the food pantry where Emily volunteers, they are often embarrassed.

But Emily puts them at ease. She greets each person with a warm smile.

“People come in downtrodden, and they go, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve had to come in’. And I’m like, ‘You know what, honey? They’ve helped me out before – and it’s kept me alive’.

“You wouldn’t believe the looks on their faces when I give them a hamper. They often say ‘Wow, is this mine? Thank you so much.’ We send them off happy.”

After feeling so hopeless, going hungry is something Emily no longer fears. Because there’s a place where she can eat well and be healthy and strong, she can focus on creating a secure future, free from violence and abuse.

“Without this support in my time of crisis I probably would have had to go back to my ex,” she says. “I don’t even know if I’d be alive.

“I felt like nothing then suddenly, I had the support of some food. It’s changed my life and the next steps I’ll take. My independence is back, and I feel good about myself. I’m only 50 and I’m ready to make a career… I’m going places!”

*Name has been changed to protect privacy

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Community Partner Story Angels Community Group

One day, an 80-year-old farmer came into Sue’s food pantry in Bundaberg. He’d lost a lot of equipment and supplies in the Lowmead bushfire. With the high costs of the farm repairs, he now couldn’t afford to eat.

“This old farmer said: ‘I just need to give my wife something to eat’. And we said, ‘No worries.’ He sat behind our counter crying. He came back two or three more times for food and then came back a final time and donated because he’d got back on his feet. A man like him would have never needed help in the past.” – Sue

In the ninth year of Sue’s Angels Community Group – a Foodbank Queensland Member Charity – Sue has heard stories of heartbreak and hope like this from people from all walks of life, many who have never required help before. With the cost-of-living crisis escalating, these stories remind her that life can change in an instant – and this is why she does what she does.

“Some people’s crisis is just at one point in time, and so they may not fit in with eligibility and criteria and that. They just need some help now. That’s why our food is for everybody. It must be for everybody.” – Sue

It was Sue’s own personal crisis that inspired her to launch Angels Community Group in 2014. Her niece had died in a car crash, then soon after Sue lost her job.

“I sat around for a few months feeling sorry for myself, but then I realised if you have a sense of purpose, you have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. I wanted to do something to help people.” – Sue

Soon after, Sue and a friend launched a little secondhand store with affordable goods, but it became clear that the true need in their community was for food relief.

Foodbank Queensland and its generous supporters stepped up to help them launch a pantry, providing staples such as cereal, milk, canned fruit, pasta, meal bases, rice, and meat.

“In the beginning we had nothing. Without Foodbank supporters, we wouldn’t have been able to commence.” – Sue

Since then, Angels Community Group has grown rapidly and has become a thriving community hub. It offers emergency hampers and hot nutritious meals for those in need and runs a mini-mart that sells staples. Over 280 school lunches are prepared each week for students experiencing hardship in surrounding schools. There is also an online food store that provides disadvantaged people who are living in remote towns, the chance to buy affordable groceries, delivered to their door.

Although Angels Community Group also receives food donations from other sources, Foodbank remains at the heart of all they do.

“Foodbank Queensland is extremely important for us to be able to stretch our dollar further. Demand for our emergency hampers has doubled in the past few years. I love the variety that we get from Foodbank.” – Sue

Sue admits running a food pantry during the worst cost-of-living crisis in recent history is exhausting and stressful.

“But as tough as it is, this is needed, and this is what we have to do.” – Sue

Recently, a grandmother came into the food pantry as Sue and the team were closing for the day. The lady was frantic and desperately needed food. She explained to Sue she’d just become the full-time carer of her three grandchildren that afternoon. But she had no food in the fridge and would not get her pension until tomorrow. The lady told Sue, ‘I’ve just had to turn off my daughter’s life support today – and I need something to feed my grandchildren tonight’.

It never gets easier hearing these stories, but Sue wants to share them with you, to let you know the incredible difference your donations make.

“You’re putting a smile on a child’s face who is eating tonight because of you. You’re giving relief to a man who didn’t know how he was going to put food on the table for his family tonight. You are making a difference to real people.” – Sue

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.

Edward’s Story

Father. Grandfather. An everyday Queenslander struggling to make the pension go far enough.

At 76 years old, Edward has found himself like other pensioners, budgeting each week to make the pension go far enough. Despite these challenges, Edward has always drawn strength from being close to his family.

Father to two daughters and multiple grandchildren, Edward has always been a family man. When one of his daughters gave birth to a child with a disability, Edward moved closer to his family to help.

“I have followed her around, you know, to be as much help as I can be. She’s got four kids, one of them disabled. Not easy. So, we did that for a few years, and then she decided to move down to Brisbane.” – Edward

For the last two decades, Edward has lived near his daughter and grandchildren. Their bond is a special one and living nearby has meant that they have always been around to offer each other support. This was a crucial source of strength during the COVID pandemic when Edward was required to isolate.

This year, however, his daughter was lucky to find love again. This saw her move away from Brisbane, leaving Edward alone.

“She is so happy now that she’s found this man. And I’m so happy to see how happy she is. But, jeez, I miss her.” – Edward

With his daughter no longer nearby and the pension not stretching as far due to higher living costs, Edward is feeling the pinch of rising grocery prices.

“I’m on a pension, which is limited… And I don’t have a lot of other money. So, I’m basically living off what the pension gives me every two weeks. And half of that goes to my rent.” – Edward

To help reduce the stress that comes with searching for discounted food, Edward has found relief at one of Foodbank Queensland’s over 300 Member Charities. At the Foodbank Member Charity, Edward finds both community connection and food to help make the week a little easier.

“I’ve had problems with always chasing specials and buying fruit that’s three days old and stuff like that, you know. And I found this place.” – Edward

At the Foodbank Member Charity, a free breakfast and groceries are offered to those doing it tough in the local area. Here, Edward has met other individuals who are facing difficult times.

“I can get food here for free and there is the joy of meeting some very nice people here. And whatever is on offer will always suit me. Because I eat what I have, not what I want. They have a lot of green veggies and stuff like that.”

Edward always takes care not to waste food and returns any excess that he knows he won’t consume, hoping that someone else in need will benefit.

When asked how thankful Edward is to Foodbank Queensland Donors and how their donations help to run the Foodbank Member Charity, Edward said:

“I’m extremely thankful. Extremely so because at my age and stage, my mobility is not so good. I’ve got this health issue that’s going on at the same time. It’s not just the cost of the stuff, but I live far away from the grocery stores. It’s probably a kilometre and a half to Woolies or Coles and then I have to carry it up the hill to go back home.”

Thanks to your generosity, pensioners like Edward have access to fresh produce and food when and where they need it most.

*Edward is a real Queenslander in need. His name has been changed to protect his identity.

Community Partner Story FareShare

For the last five years, Foodbank Queensland and FareShare Brisbane have been working closely together to support Queenslanders in need.

Foodbank Queensland plays a crucial role by providing the majority of ingredients for FareShare’s Brisbane kitchen. Foodbank takes pride in supplying these essential resources that FareShare transforms into nutritious, ready-to-eat meals for those in need. Working hand in hand, to ensure that donated food reaches its fullest potential, this partnership serves as a lifeline for individuals and families experiencing hardship in Queensland.

The produce Foodbank Queensland provides to FareShare includes fresh produce rescued from Queensland farms. This produce is donated directly to Foodbank due to several reasons, such as not meeting supermarket specifications or oversupply. Instead of this perfectly edible food going to waste, Foodbank rescues the produce and freely provides it to FareShare to prepare into meals. Ben O’Donoghue, Foodbank Queensland Ambassador, joined James, Production Manager at FareShare Brisbane on a tour of the facility recently, Ben commented,

“It was amazing to be shown the impressive cooking facilities and kitchen at FareShare. The awesome work that Foodbank and FareShare complete together is essential, not only helping Queenslanders in need but also farmers and the environment.” – Ben

With Queensland’s largest commercial charity kitchen, FareShare has cooked over 6 million meals for hungry Queenslanders in the past five years alone. This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to FareShare’s dedication to combating hunger and nourishing communities across Queensland.

Their impact extends far beyond the kitchen, touching the lives of countless individuals and families who rely on their nutritious meals. This is needed more than ever with the cost-of-living crisis and other impacts, as James explained,

“We’ve had a huge influx of population moving into Queensland for the last five years. This puts pressure on the housing market, increase in cost & supply. Then throw a couple of floods on top of that. This has pushed people into reaching out for a helping hand for the first time. Houseless/Homeless is being noticed in a growing rate in our city & suburbs. Some of these people, just need a helping hand, others require long term support. And if it’s one our FareShare meals, that is the start of that process, then WOW. What better way?” – James

The rise in meal production has been essential, as the growing demand for support by FareShare and other food relief charities continues to rise.

“January saw a double in production of nutritious meals from 54,000 in 2023, to just over 109,000 meals in 2024.” – James

These meals are mostly packaged in a single-serve container, packed with protein and vegetables. These ready-to-eat meals include casseroles, stir-fry’s, soups, pasta dishes and stews. Each week, the menu changes depending on what produce, and groceries are donated. This requires the staff at FareShare to not only be experienced in the kitchen but also creative and flexible in their cooking with the added support of a 400 strong volunteer workforce.

“For many people, a FareShare meal will be the only meal of the day and our chefs do everything possible to make it count.”

After FareShare chefs cook up tasty meals, Foodbank Queensland distributes them to frontline charities. This partnership ensures that together, Foodbank and FareShare are helping as many Queenslanders as possible,

“We certainly can’t work without Foodbank. The support that Foodbank gives us as far as logistical support is huge. It’s invaluable. Produce received from Foodbank enables us to create a diverse & culturally appropriate nutritious meal for zero cost to charity agencies. 385,000 tonnes of surplus, rescued & donated produce last year has helped a vast number of families right across Queensland, from as far north as Mornington Is, Carins, Mt. Isa, Townsville, Dalby, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, St. George, Gold Coast. – James

FareShare is also continuing to expand its other programs including its First Nations Program, ‘Meals for the Mob’, as well as creating non-perishable meals, ideal for providing food relief in remote and regional Australia, and for communities impacted by natural disasters.

As this partnership continues, Foodbank Queensland hopes to further expand its reach and impact to communities across the state, including distributing FareShare meals to rural Queensland.

However, this is not possible without your support. By donating to Foodbank Queensland, you can directly contribute to providing nutritious meals to those facing hardship in Queensland. Donate here to make a difference.

Community Partner Story Loaves and Fishes Slacks Creek

Since 1995, Loaves and Fishes has been supporting those in need in their community, and the greater Brisbane area. It all began with Pastor Jock making a dozen sandwiches, boiling an urn for coffee and tea and embarking on a mission to help those in need. One such individual he helped in those early days was Scott. Scott recalls the first time he met Pastor Jock:

“25 years ago, I was a druggie sticking needles in my arms. I was trying to get off the drugs and doing counselling and the Loaves and Fishes founder had a street van just outside where I was receiving counselling. So, I wandered out, gave him a gold coin, had a sausage sizzle, a drink and a chat. He took me under his wing, and I just helped out, went to church with him and got off the drugs.”

Scott, a signwriter by trade, began helping Loaves and Fishes with their signage at their centers. This began as a way to amend and balance out the evil he believed his life had included so far. But after a while the reasoning for helping changed, as Scott explained:

“After a little while I thought, wow, this feels really good. So, I kept doing it, but not because I had to make good on life, but because it just felt so good.”

The path that Pastor Jock led Scott on would only be the beginning of something greater. As of 2022, Scott took the helm of Loaves and Fishes as the CEO. Since then, Loaves and Fishes has continued to thrive as a not-for-profit charity with two locations, Slacks Creek and Caboolture.

For many years, Loaves and Fishes has been a Foodbank Queensland Member Charity. Foodbank Queensland has been an important partner in supplying Loaves and Fishes with the necessary produce and groceries needed for the important services they provide.

“Foodbank have always been a big part of what we do. We always have, because of you guys, an amazing trolley of fruit and vegetables.” – Scott

Such services include Loaves and Fishes Meal Program, which operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 11am and 1pm. This program provides nutritious, hot meals for those in need. Food hampers are also available, which are large boxes filled with all a family could possibly need for an entire week. These hampers reduce the stress for families trying to put food on the table each night. A Discount Food Outlet is also available where people can purchase groceries at a heavily discounted price.

The combination of these services acts as a set of steppingstones to help those in need find their footing. The hope is that eventually they will no longer need Loaves and Fishes support and they can live a life without knowing hunger.

“We’re a steppingstone ministry, or a charity. If someone’s really broke, they come down for a hot lunch. If a family is struggling, they can come and get a hamper. Clients don’t get to choose the contents of their hamper; it contains what is available and seasonal at that time. Once they get on their feet they can then come to our Discount Grocery Store. When they get on their feet a bit more… Back to normal grocery stores. We’re just trying to get people back on their feet and back to mainstream.” – Scott

The success of these steppingstones is seen regularly as many people become less reliant on Loaves and Fishes services. As Scott explained, some people come in only once, others ten times and then some disappear. The assumption is that they’ve gone onto bigger and better things. Such as recently, a previous service user who had previously lost his business visited Loaves and Fishes to extend his thanks to the Charity, Scott explained:

“He came in yesterday, and gave out grocery gift cards to our volunteers, and donated $200 our charity.”

These success stories are what motivates Scott and his team of staff, volunteers, Work the Dole participants and supporters. Through these services over 3,000 people are supported by Loaves and Fishes Slacks Creek and Caboolture each week. It’s clear that the need for these steppingstones is in demand more than ever. As Nicole, Floor Manager at Loaves & Fishes Slacks Creek explained,

“We are doing more than double the amount of assistance hampers than we were when I started one year ago.”

As the cost of living continues to rise so does the demand for food relief. But with the work Loaves and Fishes achieves each day, Brisbane residents have the necessary support to access a basic human right, food.

“If at least we help one person, like Jock did with me then this place is a success.” – Scott

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.

Community Partner Story Redland Community Centre

Stepping inside Redland Community Centre, you’ll be greeted by a variety of fruit, veg and clothes available for free. Should you require further relief, friendly staff and volunteers are ready and waiting to help.

From free counseling services, emergency relief, homelessness support, financial counseling, and food relief parcels, the Redland Community Centre offers a wide variety of services for anyone who finds themselves in need of assistance.

Recently, those who require this assistance has not only increased but also changed, as Ronan, Operations Manager at the Centre explained:

“It’s been busier, but it’s been different. What it has been is a shift in the demographic. The demographical shift that’s happened is about those who are working poor, the mum and dad, the families that, could just afford it before are now struggling. They’ve never had to access services before, so they’re accessing services now because they just can’t make ends meet. They’re working full time; they’re working their butt off.” – Ronan

Open five days a week, struggling families can access the support they need. Each day between 10 to 20 people use the Emergency Relief service available. Those accessing this program range from the ages of 15 to 80+. Allison, CEO of Redland Community Centre, spoke of one such elderly service user who had found herself in extreme circumstances. Allison explained:

“Four doors down from the centre, an elderly lady was eating cat food. Her house looked great, but inside she was struggling. She had children that were interstate, but she didn’t tell them. We got involved, we advised her not to eat the cat food and we gave her food. We phoned up her son, and her son was horrified. He said, ‘What?’ She didn’t say anything like that, and the elderly won’t. They don’t want to bother their children.”

The centre organised for the lady to fly down to her son, now reunited she is living a much better life. This is just one of the countless examples of how the Redland Community Centre betters the lives of community members. While over 80% of service users first connect with Redland Community Centre during a crisis, many find their other programs to also be of great assistance. Allison described the journey:

“When they arrive here, they are pretty desperate. They get serviced in Emergency Relief through the assessment with crisis support. It might be a home-cooked hot meal that we provide them. Then they’re moved through another program, it could be through Homeless United, which will pick them up and we will actively support that client to be housed if that’s what they want. Our focus is on the client.” – Allison

Homeless United, a program that began in 2017, started after Allison saw an unmet need in the Redland community. This saw 25 homeless individuals, each night of the week provided with a home-cooked meal. One requirement, Allison said was, “You joined our table. You didn’t take the meal and wander off into the darkness. We wanted you to come back and join society. Whatever that meant.”

This program successfully saw all 25 participants housed. One such participant had reached out to Allison after gambling away his money and his family. After entering their counselling services and Homeless United Program he was able to give back. With his help, he helped Allison develop and lead the Homeless United Program. Not only did this program see him find a roof over his head, but it also led him back to his family.

The success of this program continues today, despite being unfunded by the Government, and the Redland Community Centre has a remarkable 58% successful tenancy rate. In January 2024 alone, five homeless individuals found a safe place to live.

Many who access the Homeless United Program also find help through Money Finder and Financial Counselling Programs. Through these two programs, the Centre can understand why people are struggling to afford necessities, like food, Allison explained:

“The working poor are now faced with the most instability of all socio-demographic. Even your welfare dependent.”

Allison explained how people who access welfare and live in social housing usually spend about a quarter of their income on rent. Despite its being quite low, they know exactly how much they’ll pay, so they can plan their finances accordingly. This stability helps them manage their money better, whereas,

“The working poor, both parents are working, you’ve got childcare considerations. You’ve got just the cost of getting to work, looking good at work, all of this. Food, fuel…then the rent goes up, or the mortgage goes up. They are in all sorts of trouble. They are now living off credit cards.” – Allison

This is causing people to pay for groceries with buy now, pay later options. More and more service users are, unfortunately, living in denial of their financial situation.

With this reality now becoming the new norm, many of Foodbank’s frontline Charities, like Redland Community Centre are faced with an increasing demand for their services. You can assist, 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.

Community Partner Story ADRA Logan Community Centre

Did you know that in the suburb of Logan Central, a simple food hamper goes beyond providing nourishment – it also brings empowerment?

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to soar, more families than ever are discovering the lifeline that a food hamper represents. A charity providing these vital lifelines is ADRA Community Centre in Logan Central.

Each week, over 200 hampers are provided to Queenslanders in need. Hampers are filled with essentials that families and individuals need to create nutritious and filling meals that silence the overwhelming noise of hunger. Essential groceries that help fill these hampers are collected from Foodbank Queensland. Brigita, Assistant Manager and Training Coordinator at ADRA Community Centre explained,

“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without Foodbank. We get so much from Foodbank, it’s our main supplier. We love Foodbank.”– Brigita

This incredible partnership with ADRA Logan and Foodbank Queensland helps thousands of Queenslanders each year. As ADRA celebrates its 30^th year of operations, it’s important to recognise the countless lives the center has touched over the decades.

Brigita recounted a touching story of a woman in need who turned to ADRA Logan after being kicked out of her home by an abusive partner and left with nothing but a small suitcase. She turned to ADRA Logan as a lifeline.

“She had no food, no clothing, no nothing. Just a little bit of clothes that she was able to grab. So, we gave her food, we gave her a hamper, and I told her to keep coming back. About a month later she came back, and I opened the door, she said, ‘Remember me’? And she looked different because she wasn’t traumatised anymore, she looked happy.”– Brigita

The physical and mental change this woman found from a hamper of food and the connection between Brigita, ADRA Logan volunteers, and staff meant that this woman was able to get back on her feet. Today, she volunteers five days a week, because in her time of need, ADRA Logan was there for her, and now she is there for those experiencing similar situations.

“A lot of people that are volunteering here came first for food. And because they were helped, they now want to come and help somebody else.” – Brigita

Brigita shared her own incredible story of her time when volunteering at one of ADRA projects twelve years earlier. Food from Foodbank was cooked three nights a week for those homeless nearby, and Brigita volunteered as the cook. Brigita, who had previously fled from Bosnia during the war began chatting with a regular attendee.

“When I escaped the war, my father sent me out here, but my brother stayed in Bosnia and he died. Twelve years ago, I was serving the food there’s this guy…I see him all the time and one day I get talking to him.”

Brigita learned that this man had worked as a paramedic for UNICEF and visited war-torn countries, helping those in need. As a result, he has developed PTSD, making it difficult for him to interact with society.

“I realised he was exactly in the same town that my brother was in and at the same time. And he was a paramedic, so he could have been easily helping my brother. And I thought to myself, here’s a guy who didn’t have to go across the whole world to look after my family. And here he is saying to me, thank you for the meal. And there I am, saying that I should thank him for what he did 20 years before that.”– Brigita

The realisation that he had been in the same town as her brother highlighted the significance and reach of ADRA’s work. The importance of these programs and centres like ADRA Logan cannot be understated. ADRA Logan also provides emergency relief clothing and furniture through the on-site Op Shop. The centre also offers training in Certificate I Conservation and Ecosystem Management (CAEM) and Certificate I Hospitality. ADRA Logan not only helps with emergency relief but also extends its impact beyond its local community.

Under the Umbrella of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, ADRA Logan connects with other small churches across the state. As part of this connection, ADRA Logan teaches these churches to open their own pantries for their communities. This is all a part of their purpose, as Brigita explains, “That’s our mission so that people can have a pantry, in their own little community, within 15kms.”

With the support of Foodbank Queensland, it’s hoped that this mission is one day realised, as every Queenslander deserves access to nutritious food.

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.

Community Partner Story Lighthouse Care

For two decades, Lighthouse Care has been a valued Foodbank Member Charity, serving as an essential pillar within the Loganholme and Hillcrest communities. Founded by the Hill family, Lighthouse Care was sparked by Debbie Hill’s personal experience during a challenging period:

“My eyes were opened to a different world, and I said to my husband, we’re just going to give our lives to bring you hope. It was as simple as giving bread out of a van, and we just hoped to find three or four families that we could bring some hope to.”

Since 2004, that is exactly what Debbie, her husband Ron, and their children have been doing through Lighthouse Care. Starting from humble beginnings but eager to create a positive impact in the community, the Hill family began dedicating their time to delivering bread to those in need. This gradually expanded to include drinks and produce. As the demand increased, they moved the operations to a home living room and garage in Eagleby, creating a welcoming space for people to join Debbie and her family for a coffee. When the lease on the home ran out, Lighthouse Care needed a new space. Word got out about the wonderful work the Hill family was doing for families in need,

“We received a phone call from a local newspaper, and they did a front-page story of the work we were doing. And we got a call from PCYC saying you must keep going we’ll give you a small car garage and a cold room. And we started there, helping 30 families a week and within three years we were helping 300 a week.” – Debbie

By 2009, the operation required a large expansion to meet the increasing demand. This saw Lighthouse Care find its official home and own store where it currently operates from today. The store operates as your typical grocery market with a commercial fit-out and even online shopping, with click-and-collect or home delivery available to Logan, Brisbane, Ipswich, Bayside and the Gold Coast. All food is either heavily discounted or free to help struggling families make ends meet.

In 2023, Lighthouse Care supported, “75,000 families a year. We’ve also got our outlet in Hillcrest as well,” Debbie explained. Lighthouse Care’s incredible ability to support so many families is because of the hard work the Hill family and their team have put into the store and operations.

A big draw to many who know of Lighthouse Care is their $25 trolley, currently, they sell around 800 per week. The $25 trolley is full of groceries and essentials. Lighthouse Care also offers the ‘The Free Trolley Initiative’. This is a trolley that is available for struggling families who are in desperate need of assistance or are in emergencies.

Since 2004, Debbie, her family, and the Lighthouse Care team have continued to see the demand rise as the cost-of-living increases. Those who typically have never required assistance are now reaching out for help, as Debbie said,

“There was a lady parked out here one day in a lovely BMW car. She had white leather seats in the back and beautiful jewellery and makeup and she looked amazing. But she walked out of the car, and I just felt compelled to say, “I’d love to give you one of our trolleys today”. She burst into tears and just cried and cried and she said, “You’ll never know what that means to me”. So, whether it’s that person walking in here, whether someone who may be homeless. Everybody’s treated with dignity. That’s our core value.”

The above story is an example of Lighthouse Care’s ability and mission of, ‘Making lives better so that together we can make the world better’. Lighthouse Care’s transformation from a small family operation to the incredible locations and operations today is a testament to the need for their services. With Foodbank Queensland’s assistance, Lighthouse Care has been able to create a place of hope, support, and encouragement so people’s lives can be transformed.

“To everybody that donates to Foodbank, I just want to give huge thanks, because you are making a far bigger impact in our community than what you realise. For me, I’m the one that gets the thanks. I’m the one that sees the tears. I’m the one that gets to give the hope that you don’t get to see. I just want to say that you’re changing lives every day and if you have the capacity. You should donate to Foodbank.”

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.

Community Partner Story Indooroopilly Uniting Church

It’s difficult to imagine being forced to leave your home country. But this is the reality for many asylum seekers and refugees who are left with no choice. They are faced with seeking safety and starting a new life in a new country, where they don’t know the language and have no support systems in place. Imagine being hungry on top of this. Could you survive?

Indooroopilly Uniting Church Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Hub provides vital services these vulnerable families and individuals need. Founded on the values of inclusivity and compassion, the Church’s Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Hub serves as part of a support network for asylum seekers and refugees at risk of becoming homeless and unlawful.

Among its services, Indooroopilly Uniting Church provides clerical and administrative support – form-filling sessions – that assists refugees and asylum seekers and offers referrals to legal, housing, mental and physical health, and employment support services.

Working with Foodbank Queensland, the Hub supplies supplementary food and toiletries to assist in meeting the needs of this vulnerable community. Starting as a small initiative, the services have expanded to address the community’s increasing needs. Malcolm, Indooroopilly Uniting Church Hub Manager explained,

“The provision of food to people of a refugee background started as a very small pantry out at the front of the church. Church members had been going to Foodbank for a couple of years before that, supporting the wider community.” – Malcolm

Today, this pantry provides support to those in need, not only refugees but also to the homeless and unemployed. The demand for groceries increased when the Church shifted its focus to assist refugees and asylum seekers facing hardship.

“We started the targeted refugee work in around 2014, and it was initially some simple help with form filling. At that time, people who had recently been released from immigration detention were settled in the Indooroopilly area, but not allowed to work, so they had no source of income. So, the Church began to access more groceries through Foodbank to assist.”

As a result, the Church relocated the food pantry to a larger space to assist more families and individuals. Today, the Hub dedicates two afternoons per week to helping refugees and asylum seekers with food welfare and other support.

To provide access to a wider range of support services as a “one-stop-shop”, Indooroopilly Uniting Church is a part of a consortium called ASRA (Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance). This is a Queensland Government-funded program, coordinated by Communify Queensland, that assists people seeking asylum and refugees on short term visas who arrived by boat. Without the assistance of these vital programs, this disadvantaged group would face impossible and dangerous situations.

“Many of the people we support are on short term visas – some only for a few weeks or months. If you don’t have a permanent visa, you can’t get meaningful work to support yourself and your family.” – Malcolm

Many of these refugees and asylum seekers are facing impossible decisions after already experiencing persecution and discrimination in their own country. Malcolm described the situation of an archaeologist who was persecuted after questioning the lack of government funding for important antiquity sites. As a result, he and his family chose to flee and seek refuge in Australia. This is one example of the variety of individuals and families that seek and receive support at the Church’s Hub. While the food pantry is only one of the services the Hub provides, it provides food relief that Foodbank Queensland helps support.

“Foodbank has really been wonderful. As the Hub did during COVID, Foodbank is open through thick and thin. You do what you can because people still need to eat and so it’s been a great support for our work.” – Malcolm

With Foodbank Queensland’s support in providing groceries, the Hub can focus its donated resources on trying to provide these disadvantaged and vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees with the other tools they need to survive. Without this, these farmers, fishers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, mothers and grandmothers, and ultimately people just like us, would continue to fight an uphill battle without any support.

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.

Community Partner Story

Belong Community Centre

For over two decades, Belong at Acacia Ridge has been providing a safe and welcoming centre, offering a space where individuals can feel comfortable accessing essential support. Supported by Communify, Belong is part of a network that includes several community centers across Brisbane that are working together to empower and support Brisbane residents.

The Belong Community Centre provides many services and programs to Brisbane South Side residents, including the Food Co-op, Emergency Relief, Skilling Office and Programs, Community Support Worker and the community navigator program, English and citizenship classes, free community lunches and community art classes. In addition to community events such as Party in the Park or RSPCA People and Pets Day.

Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator Miranda and Support Worker Trish are part of the incredible team at Belong. Miranda has been working in Neighbourhood centers since the 90s and has a passion for creating spaces for the community to connect and receive assistance. Trish’s motivation stems from a very personal connection with Belong, as she explained:

“I started here as a client and I got some help and then I started volunteering, then I did their business admin course through Skilling Queenslanders for Work, and then they offered me a job at reception. That was 7 years ago. So, I really believe in these places because of my own experiences.”– Trish

The Skilling Queensland for Work program, vital in assisting community members like Trish, goes beyond training. Kylie, the Coordinator, emphasises its role in creating connections and providing holistic support:

“Everyone comes together and connects and it’s not just about the services, it’s also about the connection with each other. It crosses over too, sometimes we have participants who need assistance so they’ll be referred to our Food Co-Op… so we can help them to keep them in the training so then they can go on and get the job. Get back on your feet and in a position where you can support yourself.”

Another large part of helping community members get back on their feet is the Food Co-Op which is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. In the last financial year, it provided a staggering 26.7 tonnes of food relief, serving over 4,935 individuals. However, the demand has surged, with daily visitors increasing significantly, a trend Miranda observes:

“The demand is increasing, so I think we were getting maybe about 25 people a day, 12 months ago, and now we’re getting around 50 people a day.”

Those visiting the Food Co-Op include those who typically never have had to as Trish commented:

“The need for food has grown exponentially. One thing we’ve really noticed is that we have couples coming in who both work, and are still needing food assistance, so the increase in electricity and the rent increase, people just aren’t making it from week to week.” – Trish

The Food Co-Op couldn’t operate without the assistance of the incredible volunteers who assist with the pickup of food from Foodbank and other food rescue organisations, restocking of shelves, packaging fruit, and vegetables, and helping run the Co-Op.

The Co-Op operates on a raffle system, a volunteer takes each individual’s name for the draw. After this, names are randomly drawn to determine the order of who can access the Food Co-Op, as the limit is 2-3 people at a time. This also assists the volunteers and workers in ensuring everyone has access to food and no one goes without.

This welcoming space embraces individuals from diverse backgrounds, including asylum seekers and refugees. Miranda highlights the trauma associated with food scarcity faced by some clients, stemming from years spent in refugee camps:

“We’ve got people here who have spent 16-18 years in refugee camps, and they come here, and they get panic-stricken about food. It’s a trauma response around food because maybe tomorrow there will be no food. They’re not being greedy, they just want as much as they can get because they did not have access to fresh food.”

Staff and volunteers navigate this sensitively, aiming to provide a safe haven. Trish explained the fight or flight instinct over food:

“When you’re in survival mode you can’t blossom, you can’t grow, every day it’s a fight just to exist. Foodbank is giving organisations like Belong the opportunity to help people have a little bit of freedom.” – Trish

Miranda underscores the crucial role of Foodbank and our donors, emphasising how access to food enables Belong service users to fulfill basic needs and take significant strides forward in their lives.

“We couldn’t really operate without the donors of Foodbank and being able to access the food for people and how essential food is really. Without food people can’t move on, they can’t do training, they can’t do anything because they’re just focused on their basic needs, so it allows people to take that next step.” – Miranda

Belong stands as more than a centre—it’s a sanctuary, where individuals find the support, resources, and understanding they need to truly Belong.

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.