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.

Community Partner Story Authentic Church’s Community Care

If you found yourself in a position needing to choose between paying a bill or buying food, what would you do? Where would you turn?

Thankfully, Foodbank Member Charities, like Authentic Church’s Community Care, are here to help Queenslanders in need in the Logan region.

For the last four years, Melanie, Director of Community Care has put her heart and soul into the running of the Authentic Community Care Food Outlet. The Food Outlet provides low-cost and no-cost groceries and other essentials. These groceries are collected from the Foodbank Queensland Distribution Centre and other food rescue organisations.

The first three months of food hampers are free for those struggling to make ends meet. After this time, they are available for $25. They also offer a 10% discount on all low-cost groceries for the first six months. This program was created to help people end the cycle of disadvantage, as Melanie explained,

“The idea is it’s a hand-up, not a handout… We want people to keep their humility. While we can give out all the hampers that we want, we’re not actually breaking the cycle of helping people…Let’s get you on your feet.”

The Food Outlet is more than the physical items offered, it offers the intangible benefit of community, hope, and connection. Melanie’s genuine care for helping those in need doesn’t go unnoticed by users of the program.

“I’ll never ever forget a man turned up and it was just before Christmas and he said, “I’ve lost my job, we’ve got no money, we’re trying to get Centrelink”. So, we loaded their boot up, and this grown man just began to cry.”

Knowing the impact Melanie and her incredible team of 20 volunteers are making daily is a driving force behind Community Care. This connection and community offering is also available through the onsite café. The café operates as a space for community members to connect over a coffee and a bite to eat. As Melanie explained,

“Our cafe means there’s always someone you can have a conversation with. It is a connection to the community. We’re really big on community. That’s the heart and soul behind our cafe.”

Any funds made from the low-cost groceries, the op shop, and the café are all put back into the community. Melanie explained that a local student had recently been accepted to play Rugby down in Sydney, while her mother could pay for her flights, she was unable to afford her own. This is where Authentic Community Care chipped in to assist this local family. Under the umbrella of Community Care, the op shop also operates to support local families and individuals.

“There are agencies that reach out to us, and they’ll have a family that’s just gone into care and grandma’s just taken on the kids and they haven’t got clothes, they’ve come with nothing. And I’m like, “Yep, we can do two sets of clothes for everybody just to get them safe and started.” We don’t charge for that.”

So, if you were to ever find yourself in the position of needing assistance, it’s comforting to know that Foodbank Member Charities like Authentic Community Care exist. They exist not only for those who find themselves in desperate need but for anyone, “I don’t care if you’re driving a Mercedes. Looks are deceiving, so many people that have those cars are actually struggling to make ends meet” – Melanie.

With the rising cost of living and interest rate increases, many are just one bill away from skipping a meal or going an entire day without eating. But you can 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.

Community Partner Story

The Twin Rivers Centre

For the last 26 years, the Twin Rivers Staff have supported Queenslanders in need and other charities throughout the state. At the heart of the charity is the support of the Twin Rivers Church and the Food Outlet Managers, Noel and Gayle. Starting with humble beginnings, Noel’s move to Brisbane from Hervey Bay saw him connect with Foodbank Queensland in the very early days.

“This started with one of my little trucks from my previous business and a few Eskies. I went to Foodbank and sowed a seed of 400 dollars out of my own pocket. This was back when Foodbank was in Fortitude Valley and there were only two staff at Foodbank.”– Noel

Throughout the last 26 years, Noel, Gayle, and the Centre’s team have built the Twin Rivers Food Outlet into a very successful and integral charity located on Brisbane’s south side. Operating under the vision and direction of the Twin Rivers Church, the Food Outlet plays a huge role in connecting, building, and equipping people for success in every area of life. The Food Outlet has received unwavering support from the Twin Rivers Church, with Pastor Bob Engwicht initially aiding the cause. Presently, Pastor Reuben Roos carries forward this support. His and the church’s steadfast backing plays a pivotal role in the centre’s accomplishments, enabling it to make a profound difference in the community.

Each day over 450 families rely upon the low-cost groceries the Twin River’s Food Outlet provides. That’s more than 100,000 clients annually, who are supported by the tireless efforts of the entire team at the Centre. However, in the last year, the increase in need is noticeable, as Noel discussed: “Now on average, 450 families per day, six days a week. Numbers have increased recently with RBA interest rises; the figures are around 480 per day.” – Noel

The operations of such a large charity would not be possible without the assistance of volunteers, staff, and Skilling Queensland trainees. These traineeships offered by the Twin Rivers Centre in partnership with the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for work program, are another aspect of the work of the Twin Rivers Centre. As Gayle explained,

“We do retail traineeships here. We have ten trainees here and we have three in the café and five in admin. Every 18 weeks we offer that, and we put them through the course. They do their units, and we provide all the practicals.”

This is an important part of their work in assisting disadvantaged Queenslanders in gaining valuable skills, qualifications, and experience to enter and stay in the workforce. The Twin Rivers Centre also provides traineeships in hospitality, retail, and administration as well as offering counselling services and NDIS support. The opportunities provided by this and the access to low-cost groceries interlace closely with Noel and Gayle’s motto of, “a hand up and not a hand down”.

This is visually represented through the pristine presentation of the Twin Rivers Food Outlet store. When arriving, one might mistake the centre for a typical grocery store. Upon entering, service users can use the available trolleys, shop for products in the aisles and in the large commercial refrigerators, and check out at the counters with conveyor belts, serviced by the retail trainees. The best part – all products are heavily discounted.

“We don’t want them to feel like this is a charity. We want them to feel this is their weekly shop.We want people to walk in here, we’ve had people who have lost their jobs and almost feel embarrassed to come in. So, we’re very big on cleaning, keeping it neat and tidy. It’s hard enough to ask for help.” -Noel

Further adding to the dignity of the service provided here, Noel and Gayle chose this model of food relief after surveying their service users over 19 years ago to better understand how they wanted to receive food relief. The overwhelming response was being able to choose exactly what they wanted and needed.

“People know how much money they have to spend, so we wanted to provide something for them – a choice. We didn’t want to embarrass them when they got to the checkout.” – Gayle

With years of experience in running a large, successful charity, Noel, Gayle and the rest of the Twin Rivers Centre staff hope to help more Queenslanders in need through mentoring other charities.

“I have felt very strongly for a long time now about helping other smaller organisations that haven’t walked the road yet, that maybe don’t have facilities, don’t have storage. We’re connecting with a lot of smaller charities that just need a bit of mentoring because we’ve done this, I’ve done this for 26 years now, so I’ve learned one or two things.” – Noel

It hasn’t always been an easy path. In 2004, the building the Food Outlet was operating from was burnt down by vandals on a Saturday night. Noel explained how he would never forget the feeling of it:

“We were just standing there crying and we had customers come up to us and say, “Noel, you’ve got to reopen, please reopen. I can’t survive”.

By Tuesday morning Noel and his team had a council building just up the road, and the community gathered behind them dropping off fridges and freezers. The community’s rallying behind the Twin Rivers Centre is a testament to the importance this Centre holds in the Eagleby community.

Years of hard work have paid off with thousands and thousands of families accessing their services. Without Member Charities like the Twin Rivers Centre, Foodbank Queensland wouldn’t be able to reach as many Queenslanders in need.

“And it wouldn’t have happened, it wouldn’t have started without Foodbank. As much as I wanted to help people, it would not have started without Foodbank.” – Noel

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

The Y Cannon Hill

The Y Cannon Hill Community Centre’s Wellbeing Wednesday Program recently celebrated 12 months of providing food and connection to those in need, in their local area.

Thanks to the generous contributions of Foodbank donors, The Y Cannon Hill Community Centre, one of Foodbank Queensland’s more than 300 Member Charities, has been able to fill this need and support vulnerable individuals and families in the area.

After two nearby food relief services closed their doors, Wendy, The Y Cannon Hill Community Centre’s Community Development Officer, recognised the need for this service to continue in Cannon Hill.

Every Tuesday, Wendy, and her rotating team of 15 volunteers sort through the donations for the week. Part of the success of the program Wendy attributes to the team of selfless volunteers.

“It takes an army. We have an amazing volunteer team. Wellbeing Wednesday couldn’t run without our volunteers.” – Wendy

Wellbeing Wednesday not only provides food hampers but also clothes, blankets, toiletries, morning tea, a sausage sizzle, employment information and guidance. Orange Sky also offers laundry services to community members. But underlying all of this is a community of individuals supporting one another.

“People make friends with each other coming here, and they’ll give each other lifts home. So, it’s not just coming to the community centre for help, but also to connect.” – Wendy

During the first Wellbeing Wednesday, 12 people came through their doors for support and food relief. Now, on average 50 to 60 individuals are supported by the program each week. At the heart of this program’s success is the stigma-free environment, where all recipients are met with compassion and support.

“When people come in, they have their dignity, they’re not judged. We really wanted it to morph into a community supporting each other. In the early days, one lady said that she sat in her car for 20 minutes, too embarrassed to come in. But then when she saw how friendly everyone looked, she came in. And that lady still comes today.” – Wendy

Food hampers are packaged based on the recipients’ responses to a simple questionnaire, questions asked include; Do you have cooking facilities? Do you have a fridge? Do you have children? If yes, what are their ages? This assists the centre in tailoring the food packages as much as possible. While the food hamper is packed, community members have a moment to socialise and connect over a sausage sizzle and morning tea.

Despite the Cannon Hill suburb being recognised as a higher socio-economic neighborhood, under the surface there are everyday Queenslanders struggling to put food on the table. In recent months, the cost-of-living has continued to impact many individuals and families. Programs like Wellbeing Wednesday are essential to many, who may have never typically sought food relief before.

“There are people that are working, but they might be working either on lower paying jobs or casual positions. While rents and mortgages have continued to go up. I think the whole picture has changed about who’s reaching out for help now. It’s people from single families to single parents, there’s seniors that come along as well, because they’re on pensions. There’s a lot of people that come here that have never ever had to ask for help.” – Wendy

One couple who Wendy recalls was a young family who had recently had a baby when the father unexpectedly lost his job. In their moment of need, Wellbeing Wednesdays was there to support with food hampers and other essential items.

“They started coming to Wellbeing Wednesdays for about two to three months and then they stopped. The wife rang us to let us know her husband had gotten a job. She said, ‘Is it okay if I make up a food platter and bring it down to Wellbeing Wednesday for everyone to share?’. And she did.” – Wendy

Your generosity helps Foodbank provide emergency food and groceries to frontline charities across the state, like The Y Cannon Hill Community Centre, to help families like this get back on their feet. Without your support, Wendy, and the volunteers wouldn’t be able to service the growing number of people in need in Cannon Hill and surrounding suburbs.

“I can’t even say enough how important it is that people support charities like Foodbank. We know firsthand, without charities like Foodbank, people would become homeless or at a higher risk of homelessness than they already are. Hopefully hearing some of these stories helps you understand how appreciated it is and the impact that it has. It is to say that every donation has made a difference to someone. Whether it’s big or small, it’s going a long, long way.” – Wendy

To all of Foodbank Queensland’s wonderful donors, Wendy cannot stress enough the importance and gratitude Wellbeing Wednesday has for your donations. To those who have thought about donating, Wendy wisely reminds us, any of us could find ourselves on the other side of hardship at some point in life.

“I always say, and this includes myself, any of us could be in the situation where we need help. So, if you’ve got the means to be able to support and donate, please do.” – Wendy

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.

Phillip’s Story

Battling Queenslanders like Phillip are doing their very best for their kids but, through no fault of their own, they’re struggling to put food on the table.

Phillip had already been doing it tough, balancing his work as a painter with parenting as a single dad.

Then he was hit by multiple health issues at once. Swollen tendons combined with an excruciating pain in his shoulder that turned out to be a torn rotator cuff, which made it impossible for him to continue working in his painting business.

And even as he was coming to terms with this devastating news, Phillip was confronted with the reality that he wouldn’t be able to work for the foreseeable future, because of long delays for surgery.

Dealt with blow after blow, Phillip is still reeling. His savings have dried up, and despite trying harder and harder to make ends meet for his girls, things have only gotten worse.

“To know you can’t feed your children properly is the most gut-wrenching feeling as a single parent” Phillip says.

And even if he can somehow afford to buy some food, the reality is that Phillip can only stretch his money so far, and he feels it terribly as his girls miss out on so much.

“I can just imagine, you know, them watching their friends, with trendy clothes and some of the things they have, where my kids… I just can’t give that to them.”

Philip lives with his girls in a region still recovering from the horrific 2018 bush fires when COVID-19 knocked the community down again. It took away tourism and so many livelihoods. And the problems that started then have just grown for so many like Philip.

Phillip continues to endure his chronic health conditions that stopped him from working in the first place.

He’s juggling them with trying to be there for his two daughters, as a single dad.

Add to this his mum was just diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer, and will be living out the end of her days in Phillip’s two bedroom unit with him and his girls.

“She wants to come home, so she’s around friends and family. Things are pretty hard at the moment. I’m sleeping on the lounge.”

Thankfully, Phillip’s been getting help from Foodbank, which has made an enormous difference to his life as well as that of Carly and Indy.

Phillip especially loves how much fresh produce he receives, as he tries his best to ensure the girls are eating healthy food and growing strong.

“My girls they get excited every time a hamper turns up here. My little one, she lays it all out and she’s all “Oh look what we got, Dad!”

“Yeah, I skip meals to feed the girls, definitely. I don’t even really think about it. If there’s something, the girls get it.”

Phillip’s so proud of how Carlie and Indy are handling what’s happened to their family. “The two girls are my world. I can’t explain it. They are everything to me. Everything … They’ve seen what’s been happening with me and they do understand,” he shares.

Phillip’s youngest daughter Indy is just eight years old. She watches her dad struggle to decide between paying the bills and putting food on the table. No child should experience these agonising decisions. Hunger affects everyone in the family, physically and emotionally. Hunger affects everyone in the family, physically and emotionally. “The girls know what the situation is. But sometimes at the shop, Indy will ask for a lolly. Kids at that age do that. I try.”

Phillip held back tears when he shared how it makes him feel when he receives support from Foodbank:

“If you’re in the position where you can give to people like me, we are just, you know, really thankful for that. I’m just really, really thankful.”

Your compassion will provide fresh, nutritious meals to struggling families like Phillip’s!

Food insecurity grows due to cost-of-living crisis

3.7 million households experienced food insecurity in Australia in the past year, according to the Foodbank Hunger Report 2023, released today.

The report, now in its 12th year, uncovered that 23% of Queensland households are actively going hungry, reducing their food intake, skipping meals or going entire days without eating. That’s 1 in 5 Queensland households – double the number of households in the Gold Coast.

Foodbank Queensland says the research highlights one glaringly obvious cause why so many households are experiencing food insecurity: the cost-of-living crisis.

The report confirms the face of hunger is changing. Over half of the households in Queensland experiencing food insecurity have someone in paid work (55%). Regional Queensland has been hit hardest, with rising food and grocery costs impacting 80% of food-insecure households in regional and remote communities.

More than 1 in 3 Queensland households who need help, aren’t seeking help, because they are either too embarrassed to reach out or believe others must be in greater need of assistance. Foodbank Queensland CEO, Jess Watkinson, says the cost of the most basic of rights – food and shelter, is now the most common cause of food insecurity in Australia.

“The number one reason households in Australia struggle to meet their food needs is the cost-of-living crisis. We have all felt the impact of increased mortgage repayments and rent, and rising food, fuel, and home energy costs.”

“We know that our country produces enough food to feed our population three times over – and Queensland provides one third of that produce. We must do better to ensure nutritious, culturally appropriate food reaches the dinner tables of everyone in our state.”

Foodbank Queensland is collaborating with other key members of the food relief sector in Queensland and advocating to the Queensland Government to use the Foodbank Hunger Report 2023 as a reference point to work with the sector to ensure that all Queenslanders have access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

Major Charity Partnership Formed To Help Support Queenslanders In Need

Sunshine Coast based Go Transit Media Group, has today announced a corporate partnership with Foodbank Queensland which will help promote awareness and provide essential support to more than 150,000 families in need each week. As Queensland’s largest hunger relief organisation, Foodbank Queensland supports hundreds of frontline charities across the state to get fresh food onto tables.

As part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility commitment, Go Transit assists a broad and diverse cross-section of community, youth, health, and sporting organisations across its 400 regional markets every year. These include: Sleepbus, Give Me Five For Kids, Dollys Dream, RSL Australia, National Missing Persons Week, Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Program and many more.

“In addition to this, we want to build a more meaningful contribution – particularly as the rising cost of living pushes up food insecurity and exposes more and more vulnerable Australians. We are proud to really get behind the hard-working team at Foodbank Queensland to make a positive difference”, said Andrea Coles, Go Transits Executive General Manager.

The new partnership includes an annual transit media plan, financial support through fundraising, social media campaigns and hands-on staff contributions. “We want to see our whole team involved in supporting this important cause in a very practical and genuine way. As part of this we will be providing some additional incentives for everyone to get involved”, Ms Coles said.

To kick things off, Go Transit are promoting Foodbank Queensland’s spring appeal on 25 buses across Queensland. Support like this benefits over 300 member charities who rely heavily on Foodbank Queensland to provide them with assistance. One of these member charities is Gateway Care, a Caloundra based community resource center. Gateway Care services demand across the wider Sunshine Coast region, as well as Caboolture and Gympie. It currently supports over 1000 families in need each week.

Tom Lew, Managing Director of Gateway Care, said that the operation was modelled on a social enterprise system which would mean that it was 80 percent self-sustaining, being able to sell food and other necessary household items at an affordable cost to those on compromised incomes or within the welfare system, leaving 20 percent repurposed so that essential items, including food, can be provided as a donation to those in crisis. “This includes people who are facing domestic violence, people who have lost their homes, people who through whatever circumstances, have nothing. It is very important that we can assist these people when they need it most”, Mr Lew said.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Go Transit Media Group and value their support in providing transit media opportunities, financial contributions and social media promotion,” said Jess Watkinson, CEO Foodbank Queensland.

“This partnership will ensure that we are able to continue to provide food and groceries to more than 300 frontline charities and 300 school breakfast programs each year to make sure no Queenslander experiences hunger, and help us to engage further support to increase our provision of food.”

Community Partner Story New Hope House

Since 1985, Teen Challenge’s New Hope House, formerly Hebron House, in Kelvin Grove has been providing homeless young men, between the ages of 16-25, with crisis accommodation. Up to seven residents can live at New Hope House for three months at a time.

During their stay, these men are not only provided with a roof over their heads but also are taught valuable life lessons and skills. Daniel, a Youth Worker at New Hope House explained:

“This is a home. So, you’ve got the lounge and you’ve got meals altogether at the dinner table. That’s really intentional for us as our culture. But then we also work with them (the residents) with their living skills. We really focus on their quality of living.”

Daniel and Tim, a Senior Case Worker at New Hope House focus on providing these young men, with routines, accountability, and chores, such as cooking. This is where New Hope House’s partnership with Foodbank Queensland assists in supporting these vulnerable young men. For the last few years, New Hope House has been a Foodbank Member Charity.

This partnership assists New Hope House in providing easy and nutritious meals to their residents, such as the house favourite FareShare meals; collected from Foodbank’s Food Distribution Centre.

As part of improving the residents’ living skills, each week, Daniel puts together a menu of weekly dinners which each resident will be assigned to cook. These simple meals include food collected from Foodbank.

“We have a really good space here to teach them to cook once a week. At the moment, it’s with the youth worker, teaching them to use gloves, hygiene and to wash their hands. And in here, we see the guys that are passionate about cooking and then we start asking… well, have you thought about a career?” – Tim

The residents’ weekly cooking night has also allowed some residents the opportunity to share their culture. This has seen the New Hope House dining table filled with a mix of cuisines from African to Middle Eastern dishes.

Any ingredients left over, or which they have excess of, are donated to a nearby church who distributes them to people who are homeless. On these days, the New Hope House residents will pack the food and assist in distributing the hampers to local shelters.

The partnership with Foodbank helps New Hope House to source quality food at a discounted rate, which allows them to deliver more programs and services.

“It’s really helped our budget, so we can spend it on other programs other than just food. So, these meals and food have helped our budget.”– Tim

In the last 6 months, next door to New Hope House, they’ve begun operating a transitional house. The purpose of this house is to provide ex-residents the opportunity to step out on their own, while still having the support network that New Hope House offers. Those ex-residents who step out on their own completely are also provided with a food hamper to assist them with their transition.

The young men who are supported by New Hope House vary, typically the residents find shelter at New Hope House due to a relationship breakdown with their families. Daniel explained that:

“They’re not in the wrong. They haven’t done anything wrong. They’re not into substances. They’re not gambling. There’s nothing wrong with them. They just can’t go home.”

A previous resident at New Hope House who impacted Tim greatly was a resident who had never had a birthday cake and for Daniel it was a 22-year-old who had never learnt to shave. Daniel recounts:

“He came to me one time and he asked, “Do you have any shaving cream? Could you teach me how to shave?” We were in that bathroom for an hour. It was a real father and son moment. I got a little teary, because it was this moment of not only did he physically feel better but also emotionally and mentally, it was quite special.”

The relationships Tim, Daniel and Team Leader, Ben build with New Hope House’s residents is inspiring. Not only does New Hope House provide its residents with the safety of a roof over their heads but also the chance to start anew. As Tim explained:

“We don’t judge them. We give them a full reset, we say to some of the guys, “Imagine there’s a whiteboard. It’s got your history on it. We’re just wiping it clean right now. So let’s just go day by day.”

As the name suggests, New Hope House provides these young men with a space where they can reset, gain new life skills and lessons provided by Tim, Daniel and Ben and ultimately, set them up to feel hopeful. The success of which they see often, with ex-residents inviting them to important life moments, such as graduations. Even the little things, Daniel is grateful to be a part of:

“I had an ex-resident come back three weeks ago. He left a couple of months ago now. But he said, “I guarantee if it wasn’t for that (the cooking) and the living skills, there’s no way I’d be able to live the way I’m living now.” – Daniel

Foodbank Queensland is proud to work alongside New Hope House to help provide food for its residents. Daniel explained how the partnership has assisted them.

“We’re just super grateful here at New Hope House that we’re able to partner with Foodbank who understands the need that’s currently being experienced from Australians. There’s a huge homelessness crisis that is happening but by partnering with Foodbank, we are able to really support those that are in need, from the street to the table.”

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, you can read more about becoming a Foodbank Member Charity here.

Meet Foodbank Food Donors: Kalfresh, Mulgowie & Windolf, Gatton & the Scenic Rim

Foodbank Queensland recently had the pleasure of visiting some of our dedicated food donors in Gatton and the Scenic Rim. We were grateful to visit three of our regular farm donors; Kalfresh Vegetables, Windolf Farms and Mulgowie Farming Company.

At each farm, Foodbank Queensland representatives had the opportunity to learn more about the picking and packing process, the supply chain we’ve built to move rescued produce from farms to Foodbank’s Distribution Center, and why these farms donate to Foodbank Queensland.

Our relationships with these farmers allows us to not only provide struggling Queenslanders with much needed fresh produce, but also helps to reduce waste across the state.

Kalfresh Vegetables

Kalfresh has been dedicated to donating fresh produce to Foodbank Queensland for over 10 years. Established in 1992, Kalfresh now operates with more than 4000 acres under crop in nine growing regions – Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Southern Downs and Bowen.

Kalfresh sources produce from its own farms and from a group of local farming families with direct supply agreements. This allows Kalfresh to produce a 12-month supply.

At Foodbank Queensland, our most donated produce from Kalfresh includes carrots, beans, watermelons, pumpkins and corn. When asked why Kalfresh donates to Foodbank, Kalfresh’s Agricultural Director, Craig said:

“We started donating to Foodbank as Foodbank was a charity that’s got a lot of impact. They take good volumes of produce off us and we put a lot of effort into growing food so the last thing we want is to see food wasted.”

Kalfresh’s commitment to reducing waste, while helping Queenslanders in need is a testament to their dedication towards creating sustainability in the farming industry.

Windolf

Windolf Farms has been operating for over 20 years and is a family owned and operated business located in the Upper Tenthill area near Gatton, Queensland. With farms located in Upper Tenthill, Tenthill, Gatton and Clifton, Windolf Farms supplies Foodbank Queensland with various produce including potatoes, broccoli, parsnips, pumpkins, and watermelons.

For over 10 years, Windolf Farms have committed to donating to Foodbank Queensland. During this time, despite facing devasting floods in 2022, they have continued to support Foodbank. Sharron Windolf explained Windolf Farms commitment to their partnership with Foodbank Queensland:

“Windolf Farms supports Foodbank when it can to supply fresh produce and believes in the importance of giving back. The reason for supply to Foodbank can vary, however for produce to be used to help those in need is a fantastic avenue.”

The team at Windolf Farms also kindly transport all their donations to the Foodbank Food Distribution Centre using their own trucks. Their dedicated unloaders also graciously volunteer their time to unload the products free of charge, demonstrating their commitment to giving back to the community.

Mulgowie Farming Company

Mulgowie Farming Company is an Australian owned and operated family company, located in the Lockyer Valley region. Over the last 10 years, Mulgowie has been generously donating to Foodbank Queensland. Site manager, Darren, explained why some produce may not make it to grocery shelves:

“We donate to Foodbank for a couple of reasons, the main one is to repurpose our downgraded or imperfect produce. It’s still 100% edible. 100% fantastic. But doesn’t quite meet our giant supermarket specs so instead of it going to waste we donate it to Foodbank.”

The main produce Foodbank Queensland receives from Mulgowie includes sweet corn and green beans. As part of their mission to care for the world we live in, Mulgowie focuses heavily on increasing sustainability as part of their farming efforts. This includes regular donations to Foodbank.

Altogether, these three farms have donated enough fruit and vegetables to create almost 400,000 meals for Queenslanders in need in the last year alone. That’s over 15 Olympic swimming pools of water conserved!

In heartfelt appreciation, Foodbank Queensland’s Food Supply Manager, shares these words of gratitude for the profound impact all three of these farms have made over the past decade.

“Foodbank Queensland would like to say thank you to Kalfresh Vegetables, Windolf Farms and Mulgowie Farming Company, for the support you have all given to us over the past decade to help our Member Charities and everyday Queenslanders” – Foodbank Queensland’s Food Supply Manager

Each farms’ unwavering support means that struggling Queenslanders across the state have access to fresh fruit and vegetables. We are so thankful for our produce donors and their commitment to reducing food wastage.

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