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.

A Truck Load Of Support Grows Access To Food Donations In Queensland

Queensland’s frontline charities will soon have access to hundreds of tonnes of additional fruit and vegetables to provide to needy families thanks to a fitted out truck donated to Foodbank Queensland.

The truck has been donated by Alliance Airlines to help increase the rescue of food at risk of going to waste and fast track its distribution to more than 300 frontline charities and 300 school breakfast programs throughout the state. It is the fifth truck in the Foodbank Queensland fleet and will grow its capacity to collect food for frontline charities by 20 per cent.

The need for extra food is so strong that the refrigerated truck will be on the road up to seven hours each day and is expected to travel about 800 kilometres every week carrying 28 pallets of donated food per trip.

The generous support from Alliance Airlines will change lives right across the State.

“Every hour Foodbank Queensland provides 3,000 meals to people in need in Queensland. This supports 150,000 Queenslanders each week, but sadly the demand still outweighs supply,” said Jess Watkinson CEO Foodbank Queensland.

“We have a big state and a lot of agriculture, but sadly, sometimes the crops just don’t get to market. With this truck we will have the capacity to rescue a lot of that produce and put it in the hands of the frontline charities that can distribute it, and that makes a huge difference.”

Through Foodbank Queensland’s work with Queensland farmers and hundreds of food and grocery companies, its trucks are used to also rescue produce and good quality packaged and tinned foods and deliver them where they can be distributed.

Scott McMillan, Managing Director of Alliance Airlines, said the airline travels to remote areas of Australia and sees firsthand the need for assistance by families in regional and remote areas, as well as capital cities.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Foodbank Queensland, as the state’s largest and most trusted hunger relief charity,” says Scott McMillan.

“We look forward to supporting Foodbank Queensland in the fight against hunger and to help make an impact to the lives of many Queenslanders.”

Mitch’s Story

“I don’t know how I’ll get through the next few months…” – Mitch*, single father of three.

Despite never having the support and resources needed, Mitch created a happy home for his three children. When adversity recently returned, it put food out of reach for his family.

Mitch’s childhood was marked by family breakdowns. Raised by his father who remarried many times, Mitch moved from town to town and was placed in foster care at 12. Life was looking up when he married and had three children. After his relationship broke down, Mitch became the primary carer for his children. With Mitch and his children all on the autism spectrum, life is often overwhelming and stressful. Unable to work due to his disability, they struggle on a small pension.

“Finding money to support them is hard, I don’t want my children to ever miss out.” – Mitch.

Mitch is a loving father who is worried about providing regular, healthy meals amidst soaring living costs.

“When we haven’t had enough to eat, it weighs me down. I have to pull together whatever meals I can, like beans on toast.” – Mitch

“School lunches are very stressful, paying for all the fruit and snacks. It’s also the meat and vegetables that have become too expensive… the things that are still cheap are the junk foods.” – Mitch

Generous supporters like you changed everything for Mitch. He found help at a Foodbank Member Charity where he receives nutritious meals for his family. “They do dinners like spaghetti, macaroni, vegetarian, and it puts me at ease. I can focus on being a good Dad.” – Mitch

Mitch now volunteers at the Foodbank Member Charity, helping others access food relief. Having autism has created barriers to employment, but volunteering makes him feel loved, like he’s making a difference. “They make me feel special.” – Mitch

Without Foodbank’s Member Charity, Mitch doesn’t know where he would be. Your support has been a vital lifeline, providing nourishment to families like Mitch’s who are facing hunger and hardship in our Queensland communities.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy

Community Partner Story Urban Angels Community Kitchen

“I always say we create all this food. But really the food is just a tool for us to create a sense of community and a sense of belonging for all of our service users as well as our volunteers. It’s so important to them, each and every one of them.” – Birgit

From a young age, Birgit has understood how food has the power to connect people during difficult times. After losing her mother at 9, Birgit’s father – who had little experience with cooking – struggled to provide meals for his 5 children. Birgit says she will never forget the sad look on her father’s face, as he pushed around tinned sausages on his plate.

To help her family, Birgit stepped up and began cooking for her father and her four siblings. From her cooking, she learnt that food makes people happy and offers an opportunity for connection. Just like it did with her family. This is something that has become a common thread throughout Birgit’s life.

“I understood very early on the importance of tasty food to make people happy”. – Birgit

After seeing an increased need for food assistance in the local community, Birgit began cooking in her own kitchen. Soon, other mothers began to help too. As word spread and need increased, they quickly outgrew the space. Turning to her children’s school for help, a once per term meal preparation group began in the school kitchen. The volunteers began cooking around 50 meals per session but unexpectantly were quickly cooking an exceptional 450 meals per session.

IFYS, a local family and youth support service, recognised the remarkable efforts of Birgit, who not only provided food but also fostered a sense of community among her service users. As a result, IFYS brought Birgit’s program into their services in 2016 and so Urban Angels was officially born.

Urban Angels is now one of Foodbank Queensland’s more than 300 Member Charities providing vital food relief to local struggling families and individuals. In their Maroochydore, purpose-built, commercial kitchen, generously donated by a selfless supporter, Birgit and the rotating 160 volunteers cook hundreds of ready-to-eat meals every day. These meals support vulnerable residents at the IFYS Housing Pathways Programs, Caravan Park and Aged Care Home residents, schools, and individuals across the Sunshine Coast. But in the last year, the need for their services has more than doubled.

“The increase in demand is just unbelievable. I’d say it must be 70%. We’re seeing people who have never had to reach out to a charity before and are so ashamed to have to.”– Birgit

As more and more individuals look for support, the Urban Angels team are working to create a safe and inclusive environment where no stigma or embarrassment is attached in reaching out to their services.

“There was a young woman who came in here with her mother, just last week. She was so embarrassed. She started crying when she came here, it was her first time. And I said, ’You know what, there are so many people who need help, that everybody needs help at some stage in their lives.’” – Birgit

Connecting with local individuals and families in need is an important pillar of the program that Urban Angels works hard to achieve. Together with the volunteers, Birgit continues to create a sense of community through the connection of food, encouraging those volunteers who deliver food, to stop, connect, and talk to those in the community most in need.

“What we are doing here is creating community for the people that we visit.” – Birgit

With the increasing cost-of-living affecting so many in her community, Birgit said she is grateful for Foodbank’s support.

“I don’t know where the world would be without Foodbank and other food donation charities. I just think the world would stop without organisations like Foodbank rescuing food. It is so important because there’s so much waste. I just think it’s critical.”- Birgit

Without your generous support of Foodbank, charities like Urban Angels would not be able to operate and feed those most in need. Birgit’s story is an example of how your donations can positively impact local communities throughout Queensland.

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 Tracey’s Pantry

After Judy tragically lost her daughter Tracey, aged only 57, to cancer the loving mum had a deep desire to do something good for the Beaudesert community to keep Tracey’s memory alive.

“Tracey loved cooking and she loved giving things to people, so after she died, I donated her freezer to Scenic Rim Uniting Church to store food supplies for those in need. I told the church: ‘It’d be great if we could keep the freezer full of food in case people come to the church hungry’. It was a lovely way to remember Tracey… because she did so much for people in her life.” – Judy

Picture: Tracey, Judy’s Daughter.

Picture: Judy, the founder of Tracey’s Pantry.

Four years on, Tracey’s remarkable legacy of kindness and generosity is clear for all to see. What started as a small, unassuming food outreach at the church has evolved into a thriving weekly pantry and community hub, voluntarily coordinated by Judy herself. And the name? Tracey’s Pantry – a fitting tribute to one taken too soon.

Tracey’s Pantry is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 350 Member Charities providing vital food relief to local struggling families. At Tracey’s Pantry, the essential food items that are made available, thanks to Foodbank supporters, have helped prevent many adults and children from going hungry. In the last year alone, Tracey’s Pantry has fed 2,000 members of the community.

As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, staples like cereal and pasta along with fruit, vegetables, milk, tea and bread, are lovingly packed by volunteers into emergency food hampers. These go to those struggling the most, including the homeless, unemployed and families and pensioners doing it tough.

For Judy and the team, it brings a deep satisfaction to help the vulnerable in their community, giving them the chance to eat reliable, nutritious meals. But in the past year they’ve been increasingly concerned that rising food costs are overwhelming so many Beaudesert locals.

“This year it’s getting a lot worse. Rentals are very hard to come by and a lot of people who come to us for food are living rough. They sleep in their cars with their children as well. They take the children down and give them a shower at the local park or something, put them into their pyjamas, and then stay all night in the car.” – Judy

One client of Tracey’s Pantry, who Judy won’t forget, is the single dad who could only get part-time work and was struggling to support his young family on the small wage. He said to Judy: ‘It’s not enough money to feed and clothe my two growing children’. He’d come to Tracey’s Pantry often and say, ‘Look, I’m sorry, mate, I just haven’t got the money for food’. He was just so desperate and upset, he could hardly talk.

For many who show up hungry, asking for help is something they never imagined having to do.

“Some people stand back a little bit and they’re ashamed. A volunteer in our team will go to them and ask how we can help. We normally ask a small fee of $10 for a hamper to cover overheads, but sometimes they haven’t got the money to pay for it, and I say; ‘That’s all right, we’ll give it to you’. And they say, ‘Really?’ They can’t believe it.” – Judy

Judy is so grateful for the generous support of Foodbank donors, especially when most supporters are feeling the pinch too. She just wants people to know that every dollar is making a difference.

“We wouldn’t be here without Foodbank’s support; Tracey’s Pantry just couldn’t survive. My daughter Tracey would love seeing us all come together to help the Beaudesert community. I’m sure she’s smiling down from above.” – Judy

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.