Over the past few years, the rising cost of living has made it difficult for many families to balance their budgets. 

They are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, fuel in their cars, and food on the table.

The cost-of-living crisis has affected everyone, single-income households, dual-income households, singles, students and pensioners.

This year Foodbank WA has had more families reach out for help than ever before, regularly assisting more than 1000 households a day.

Foodbank, through their generous partners run various campaigns across the city leading up to Christmas. Here’s how you can help more families share a meal and brighten the festive season for families across the state. 

Corporate donations for Foodbank’s Christmas Appeal 

Corporate donations play a crucial role in supporting Foodbank’s efforts to provide food relief to those in need. By contributing to the Christmas Appeal, donations can help Foodbank secure the necessary resources to distribute food and groceries to vulnerable families. These donations not only provide immediate relief but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the organisation’s food relief programs. Every dollar donated helps Foodbank deliver food, nutrition education, and emergency support where needed, making a real difference in the lives of those they serve. 

Hold a Food Drive   

Organising a corporate food drive is another impactful way for businesses to support Foodbank WA. Food drives help collect non-perishable food items and personal care products that are essential for families in need. By rallying employees to donate items such as canned meals, pasta, rice, and toiletries, organisations can make a tangible difference in their local community. Food drives also create a sense of teamwork and social responsibility among employees, creating a positive and engaging workplace culture. 

Hawaiian Giving Box Initiative 

An annual Christmas season appeal run by the Hawaiian Group is now in it’s 12th year and aims to collect funds and non-perishable food donations to make Christmas a little more special for those facing food insecurity. Donations can be made at Hawaiian shopping centres located in Melville, Park Centre, Noranda, Bassendean, Forrestfield and Claremont. This initiative provides multiple ways for people to contribute, from donating food, funds donated from Santa photos to wrapping presents at Claremont Quarter.  

Give a Feed Christmas Initiative 

The Give a Feed Christmas Initiative is a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer while supporting those in need. This initiative encourages businesses and individuals to donate funds that will sponsor Christmas hampers to vulnerable families in WA. These hampers contain a variety of festive food items, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a special meal during the holiday season. By participating in the Give a Feed Christmas Initiative, organisations can help bring joy and hope to families who might otherwise go without. 

Giving Machines located in Joondalup 

The Giving Machines located in Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre offers a unique and interactive way for the community to support Foodbank WA. These vending machines allow individuals to sponsor food and other essentials that will be donated directly to those in need. Located opposite Myer your support will provide relief for families in need while also raising awareness about food insecurity and the importance of community support. 

Volunteering 

Volunteering is a hands-on way for organisations to support Foodbank WA’s mission. Businesses and community groups can organise volunteer days where people from all walks of life come together to pack food hampers or cook ready-to-eat meals in Foodbank’s Community Kitchen. These activities not only provide much-needed food for vulnerable families but also offer a rewarding experience for volunteers. By dedicating time and effort, volunteers can see firsthand the impact of their contributions and feel a sense of pride in helping their community.

This Christmas, organisations and individuals across Western Australia have the power to make a significant difference in the lives of those most vulnerable. By participating in Foodbank initiatives, we can help ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food and can enjoy the festive season with dignity. Whether through corporate donations, food drives, and the many Christmas initiatives – there are many ways to get involved and support Foodbank’s mission. Together, we can create a brighter and more hopeful holiday season for all. 

We received beautiful bananas from Sweeter Bananas, dairy products, juice, yoghurt, and cheese from Brownes Dairy, Bega, Lactalis, Dairy Australia, and the Royal Agricultural Society, who also donated some dairy products along with absolutely delicious Bravo apples. We also received some delicious sausages, perfect for school holiday BBQs!

A huge 5,365kg of incredible donations arrived at our Perth warehouse at midday during the school holidays and put smiles on the faces of so many of our customers and their kids.

Thank you to everyone who made this donation possible, from the kind donors to the volunteers who packed and donated their time.

What a display of collaboration and kindness. 

Darren has dedicated 33 years to the food, beverage, and packaging industries, where he has held various roles in quality assurance, manufacturing, and procurement. His extensive background includes sourcing food for new product development and identifying alternative food sources, showcasing his versatility and expertise in the field.

Interestingly, Darren’s journey in Perth began with a temporary position at Goodman Fielder. What started as a short-term role turned into an eight-year tenure, during which Darren fell in love with the food industry in Perth. His commitment to the industry has only grown stronger over the years, and he has continued to make significant contributions to the field.

Darren is passionate about food sourcing and believes that the key to success lies in being agile and persistent. He often says that finding the right food source is like searching for a needle in a haystack, but with determination and creativity, it can be done. His innovative approach and unwavering dedication have earned him a reputation as a problem-solver and a leader in the industry.

Beyond his professional achievements, Darren is excited to use his knowledge and experience to give back to the community. He is committed to helping those in need and sees his role at Foodbank as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Darren’s enthusiasm for his work and his dedication to our mission make him a valuable addition to our team.

We are confident that Darren’s expertise and passion will drive our food sourcing efforts to new heights. Please join us in welcoming Darren Molen to the Foodbank family. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on our organisation and the community we serve. 

Even though Tony’s executive role at Perth Airport keeps him very busy, he has never been one to shy away from a challenge and has always been a fitness enthusiast and keen hiker.

Keen to do his bit and raise funds for Foodbank he knew he needed to do something big to get enough attention to raise funds that will make a difference. Aware that Perth does not have large mountain ranges, but does boast incredible walking trails throughout the hills which are perfect for training…a plan soon came together. He was going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Training for a challenge like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is no small feat. It involves a lot of walking to build up the necessary endurance. Running long distances isn’t as beneficial because the activity on the mountain is different. Tony’s training routine includes an hour in the gym every morning at 5am and 2 hours on Saturdays, either on the treadmill or the stair climber. With two months to go, he’ll be increasing his stair climbing sessions too.

Having previously completed the Kokoda Track and the Inca Trail, he has some idea of what to expect. However, he is acutely aware that Mt Kilimanjaro presents a unique challenge with its altitude. Altitude sickness doesn’t discriminate, affecting both couch potatoes and supreme athletes alike. The only true preparation for this is acclimatization on the mountain and taking Diamox (a medication used to treat acute mountain sickness).

The mental challenge on summit night is also significant, with a 16-hour trekking day ahead in -15 degrees and only 50% oxygen during the final ascent. Being mentally prepared is the biggest part of the challenge.

Tony says that supporting a charity like Foodbank WA and training for Kilimanjaro are both challenging yet rewarding endeavours. They both require dedication, preparation, and a strong belief in the cause. Whether it’s ensuring that no child goes to school hungry or preparing for a physically demanding climb, the journey is filled with challenges that ultimately lead to significant rewards.

Tony is going to have to dig deep to summit the mountain, and asks that if you can, to also dig deep to support those in need.

Every dollar raised delivers 2 meals.

• $21 helps feed a child for a fortnight
• $45 helps feed a person for a month
• $90 helps feed a family for a fortnight

The link to Tony’s fundraising page can be found here - all donations of $2 or over are tax deductible.

“By supporting Foodbank WA, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need, and by taking on personal challenges like Kilimanjaro, we can push our limits and achieve great things.”

You can donate much needed food items to the Hawaiian Giving Box at all Hawaiian shopping centres and you will also find us at Claremont Quarter wrapping gifts to raise crucial funds. 

Claremont Quarter will also be donating funds from Santa photos and their Champagne lounge to us – so there really is something for everyone.

Another way to make a real difference is by joining our volunteer team. If you have the time, we’d love to have become part of a community of compassionate individuals making a real difference this Christmas. 

Join us today and help make this Christmas magical for families in need. 

Our 2025 Hunger Report revealed that 350,000 households experienced food stress in the last twelve months, so while our figure of selling 3,000 hampers may seem like a lot, it sadly falls short of the number of people who may be going without food on Christmas Day.

For just $50 you can help us provide a Christmas food hamper to a Western Australian family in need. Each hamper contains enough ingredients to provide a festive meal for a family of four. Each Christmas hamper is packed by volunteers and distributed by the Foodbank WA network to families in need just in time for Christmas so they can enjoy Christmas Day and not go hungry.

You can support Give a Feed by donating personally, Gift a Feed on behalf of someone special as a gift, become a Gold Plate Member or get involved as an Honourable Partner. You can even help by simply sharing this with your social network.

Give a Feed was founded in 2011 by Wayne Smith and Aaron Pitt to help WA families in need enjoy Christmas.  By partnering with Foodbank WA and Rotary WA, Give A Feed has helped more than 30,000 WA families in need and raised over 1,0000,000.

Let’s spread the festive cheer as far and wide as we can.