Words of thanks from lockdown

Foodbank has worked tirelessly to try to meet the surging need for hunger relief during lockdown. But this has only been possible thanks to thousands of everyday Aussies who have donated and have directly helped to put food on the table for people going hungry.

Here are some messages of thanks that convey just how significant your donation has been to people during this crisis.

“I don’t know how to thank you all. This is very kind of you. The hamper has everything that can go for a week or more. Thanks a million for your support. This was really helpful.”

“I’d just like to say thank you very much for the support that you’ve provided us with these hampers: they will be a great help for me during these tough times. The country I am from is facing worsening conditions with COVID and I worry for the health of my family and friends back home. But this hamper has helped me ease some of my worries.”

“I’m not sure how I was so lucky to get a hamper, but I thank you so much. I’m a single mother on a disability pension and once my rent and bills are paid we live on rations, mostly rice and pasta. I really appreciate this hamper it is of great use for us, as I’m sure it will be for many. I’m always frightened week to week of what food I will have to feed my child. So again, I thank you so much.”

“At this crisis time, I am really thankful to you all for providing me groceries which I was unable to buy due to lack of money as I lost my job. The groceries will now help me for about 3-4 weeks. I was really facing problems which made me believe no one is here to help. But you guys made me believe that humanity does exists. The support I got from you really means a lot to me in this pandemic situation. Thank you so much.”

“I am so grateful to have grocery support from Foodbank. During this time this kind of help has kept me motivated. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your help.”

“Without assistance like this I would be stealing from shops and supermarkets, and I’ve never wanted to do things like that in the first place. When you’re down and out and have no money, nowhere to live…that’s something I’ve had to do.

I would like to thank you and anyone else who’s involved. Thank you.”

If you would like to donate to continue helping more people in lockdown you can do so here.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY, SAYS MARGARET

Hunger Fighters are a special group of people who give a regular donation to Foodbank every four weeks.

Big-hearted regular donors like Margaret know that even the smallest donation to Foodbank goes a long way.

“Every four weeks I donate $20. That’s all I can afford at the moment. My husband is on a pension, I’m on Centrelink, so there’s not much money there, but we can afford to give that little bit to Foodbank,” said Margaret.

 

Did you know that every single dollar donated to Foodbank provides two meals? You can make a difference, too. Margaret encourages you to become a Hunger Fighter, too. “Go for it. People need help. We need to get that food out to everybody who is doing it tough.”

If you would like to become a regular donor like Margaret you can sign up here.

“Without hope, I don’t know where we’d be.”

Jenny never imagined she would need help from Foodbank – until her Marital Arts business had to close down during the COVID lockdown.

“We had no income. My husband, who was semi-retired, went back to work driving trucks. He struggled, but we had to get some money in the door to feed us and our boys.

“Before COVID-19 hit, we were partnering with Foodbank, providing veggies from local Goulburn farmers for hampers. Then we ended up needing help, too. We’re still trying to get back on our feet.

“I’m a Foodbank volunteer now. I’m so intensely proud of our community – the way we are looking out for each other. To all those wonderful people who have donated to Foodbank, please keep your donations coming.”

Hungry Aussie families like Jenny’s are so grateful to you for putting food on the table – thank you.

The New Faces of Hunger

Do you remember Leanne and Jack and their young family? Their story in our recent letter touched many hearts… especially the news that little Robert, aged just 11, had a heart attack, then a further illness, Sydenham’s Chorea.

It was hard to believe that one young couple had to cope with so much in such a short time. The reality is, this is just one story among hundreds; hard-working Aussie families who never in their wildest dreams imagined they would be facing such hardship.

Your kind response to this appeal made a huge difference. Foodbank has delivered food hampers brimming with ingredients for healthy meals
to Leanne and Jack to feed their kids, and other families, too.

Leanne and Jack face many hard days ahead. Jack has still not secured a job. Robert is struggling to cope with his new medicine. And they are not alone.

Families who have never needed help to put food on the table for their children are now desperate, and it could be anyone, in your street or the school yard.

Groups like Deloitte Access Economics estimate the further loss of 145,000 jobs over the next two years. That’s countless thousands more families going hungry. And that’s why Foodbank is aiming to deliver an extra 2.7 million meals a month to families in need.

Thank you so much for your care and support for families like Leanne and Jack’s. Knowing that people like you care so much about them brings such comfort. Your generosity is bringing hope and filling empty tummies.

Your kindness changed everything for Glenn

“I lost the business, I lost my house, I lost my car, everything. It was unbelievable.”

Last year, Glenn’s visa travel business wore the full impact of COVID-19. “Christmas time was always slow. There was the bushfires, followed by floods. People weren’t traveling. Then as soon as COVID hit, bang, everything stopped straightaway. I had seven staff. We had to put everyone off and close the doors.”

Glenn’s friends loaned him money to do his house up and sell for maximum value. With what was left, he bought a small home in Wingham on the NSW North Coast to start over. But sadly, Glenn was once again plunged into turmoil in the disastrous NSW floods.

“I got up at 2am to look down the hill and the water was almost at my house. It just kept coming and coming. I was luckier than others, but I couldn’t believe disaster had struck again.”

Glenn says receiving his Crisis Hamper after the floods was ‘a little ray of sunshine’. “For me, being single and for the families on my street, it was like a breath of fresh air. Such a beautiful gift to receive in a time of need.”

PHILLIP’S CHRISTMAS WISH CAME TRUE, THANKS TO YOU!

Phillip didn’t know how he was going to get through Christmas. He hasn’t worked for more than eight months. When we first spoke to him, it was all he could think about. He’s living week to week.

“Ever since I left school, I worked as a tradie. The bushfires hitting my hometown seemed bad enough, but when COVID hit, work dried up – and then I got injured. I haven’t got a wage coming in right now.

“I’m just trying to get the girls a good Christmas, get them a few presents. It’s not going to be easy this year.”

But thanks to your incredible generosity, Phillip and his girls were all smiles on Christmas Day. This loving dad surprised Carlie and little Indy, who is just six, with a delicious Christmas lunch, provided by a Foodbank hamper – and a few small presents.

“I worked for myself as a painter and decorator for 25 years and I’ve never experienced food insecurity. To know you can’t feed your children properly is the most gut-wrenching feeling.

“Now, I don’t know what I’d do without Foodbank. Getting groceries frees up money where I can put it to other things, like a few little Christmas presents or pay some bills.”

With thousands of parents like Phillip struggling to put food on the table after losing their jobs last year, the number of families relying on Foodbank has doubled. There has never been such a critical time for your support. We are so thankful to you, and so is Phillip.

“I’d like to thank all the supporters for being so kind at Christmas time. It’s been a tough year for many people, not just me and my girls. There’s people worse off than what I am. That makes those donations even more special. Thank you.”