Each morning at Kelso State School begins with the smell of toast in the air and the sound of children preparing for a successful day of learning. It’s not just breakfast – it’s a moment of connection, pride, and purpose. In this Kelso Proud school community, breakfast is more than a meal. Every child is welcomed with a smile and access to toast in the morning and sandwiches at lunchtime, no questions asked. It’s a meaningful start to the day that draws the school closer as a community. 

“The Breakfast Club brings us together,” says Sarah, Head of Department, Curriculum. The school community meets for the morning parade – a simple but powerful routine that brings students together to practice school war cries, set expectations for safe and successful learning, and prepare for the day ahead. “The kids are given the opportunity to contribute to how they might be safe, responsible and respectful,” Sarah shares.

When students arrive at school without having had breakfast the school is able to support this through programs like Breakfast Club. “There is a need to support students who may need food throughout the day, so it’s important we have those things available,” explains Sarah. “Being able to help them to access what they need to be successful, enables students to be calm, centered and ready to learn.”

Kim, Head of Department, Student Services shared, “the school is grateful for the generous donations of food that Foodbank provides throughout the year. These donations enable us to support students, families and the wider community to access daily essentials.” 

Each morning at Kelso State School begins with the smell of toast in the air and the sound of children coming together. It’s not just breakfast – it’s a moment of connection, pride, and purpose. In this tight-knit school community, breakfast is more than a meal. Every child is welcomed with toast in the morning and sandwiches at lunchtime, no questions asked. It’s a meaningful start to the day that draws the school closer as a community.

“The toast brings us together,” says Sarah, Head of Department, Curriculum. The school community meets for the “morning parade” – a simple but powerful routine that brings students together to sing school war cries, set their intentions, and prepare for the day ahead. “The kids are given the opportunity to contribute to how they might be safe, responsible, and respectful,” Sarah shares.

Many children arrive without food, and it’s not just a morning issue. “With so many kids coming in without food, both for breakfast or for lunch, it’s important we have those things available,” explains Sarah. “For the kids to come in, full tummies ready for the day, they are excited to be part of what is going on in the classroom.”

Kim, Head of Department, Student Services shared, “if it wasn’t for the food that Foodbank provides for breakfast, some students wouldn’t come to school.”

Kingdom Makers Food Outlet has only been open since March 2023, but already it has become a cornerstone of support for people across North Lakes, Deception Bay, Rothwell, Redcliffe, Kallangur and beyond.

At its heart, Kingdom Makers is a low-cost food outlet built on the power of food rescue. Partnering with organisations like Foodbank Queensland, SecondBite and Twin Rivers Centre, the outlet rescues bread, fruit, vegetables and essential grocery items every week to make sure nothing goes to waste and everything goes back into the community.

Partnerships with organisations like Foodbank are critical to keeping their shelves stocked and their community supported. As Senior Pastor, Alexia, who runs the pantry explains: “Everyday groceries are very expensive, so I think where we can help, we will. Having partners like Foodbank is paramount to the service we provide and very much needed.”

The outlet is open Tuesday to Saturday and run almost entirely by volunteers. Together, they support hundreds of families each week – parents trying to stretch their grocery budgets, older residents looking for affordable produce and people who are jobless and facing homelessness who rely on free hampers of bread, fruit, vegetables and household essentials.

Alexia knows first-hand that everyone who walks through their doors has a different story, and that stereotypes don’t reflect the reality of today’s cost of living crisis. “We can get people coming with no shoes, unemployed people living out of their cars who need support… and then we get the families where one parent is working or both, and they come in looking for cheap meats and bulk foods to make their money go further.”

One of those volunteers is Hayley. Her journey with the pantry began during one of the hardest times in her life. After leaving a domestic violence situation, Hayley found herself isolated from her community and unsure of her future. She connected with a job provider, shared her hope to volunteer, and was directed to Kingdom Makers Food Outlet.

“It’s been the best thing for me. It helped me build myself back up again. To know that I am capable, I am worthy, I am good. This place helped me come back into who I am again,” Hayley says.

Through her volunteering, Hayley has found not only purpose but also a community. “This place is home to me, it changed my life. And I watch it changing people’s lives in here every day, helping families and kids.”

Now, Hayley is one of the friendly faces helping families when they come in to shop for affordable food. She remembers a mother of seven who told her the money she saved on groceries at the outlet meant she could do something special with her kids.

“She said, I can take my kids out because I’ve saved my money here on their food for the week. What it meant to her to be able to take her kids out and do something recreational as well as feed them… you can feel unworthy when you can’t afford to give your kids the best, but when they’re happy that’s invaluable.”

Moments like this remind Hayley why she continues to give back. “My biggest thing has been if we can help the families reduce their food bill so they can help the kids play sport or help them learn an instrument – I can’t put a price on that because I know the importance of it.”

For both Alexia and Hayley, food is the connector, but people are at the heart of everything. Every day, gratitude fills the outlet, whether it’s a simple “thank you” from someone receiving a free hamper, or the growing number of community members who choose to donate and support their purpose.

“When people start donating, I know their hearts are open and they believe in what we’re doing,” Alexia says.

Kingdom Makers Food Outlet may be built around food rescue, but its true impact is restoring dignity, building purpose, and creating a place where everyone belongs. Or as Hayley puts it: “They’re not just here for good shopping and good food, but to put a smile on their face as well and feeling good for the day. Because I don’t know what else they’re going to face when they leave.”