In the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, distance is part of everyday life. Communities are spread across wide landscapes, and travelling between towns can take time and planning. For families seeking extra food support, those journeys can be long – especially as fuel costs rise and daily living expenses increase. That’s why Better Together Atherton works hand in hand with Foodbank Queensland to make sure everyone has access to nourishing food close to home.

At the heart of Better Together’s emergency relief program is a simple, compassionate belief: food is a basic human right, and community reaching out when in need is exactly what they are there for.

Better Together offer a number of different ways to access food support, all of which are welcoming and free. Community Pantry is a weekly event where people can access the ‘mini-supermarket’, taking home two bags of groceries including meat, dairy and fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost. The approach is gentle and respectful – steady support that people can rely on, with a social boost to combat isolation and loneliness.

The Pantry is only one part of a wider network of care designed to meet people where they are. With Emergency Relief both in house and via outreach, food naturally becomes the starting point for connection – the one thing we all have in common, breaking across culture, language and address.

“Whether we provide a hot meal at Pantry, or a sausage sizzle at the park on outreach, it is food that brings people together, creates conversation and builds trust and rapport between clients, staff and volunteers,” Amanda says, Community Development Officer at Better Together Atherton. “That social connection – that’s just as important as the food.”

Life in regional communities brings unique circumstances, and during times of natural disaster, the need for support can grow quickly. Better Together has been there in those moments, responding with care and practical help.

Through its partnership with Foodbank Queensland, Better Together is able to respond both in everyday moments and during emergencies. As a Disaster Relief Supply Point, the organisation keeps hampers and essential items ready to share when they’re needed most.

“One phone call can change everything,” Amanda recalls. “When we were notified of the disaster activation recently, Better Together was tasked to provide material and community support to communities who had lost everything. We were out there and, on the ground, ASAP.”

“Foodbank Queensland really helps us reach further,” Amanda says. “We’re a hub, and then we disperse it out to the community.”

This partnership also ensures good food is thoughtfully distributed – from pantry shelves to School Breakfast Programs and community meals – so it can make the greatest difference.

Inside the centre, something powerful continues to grow: connection.

“It really brought a community together,” Amanda says. “If someone doesn’t show up for pantry one week, people check on each other. They call. That’s the community.”

After more than 40 years of service, Better Together continues to listen and evolve, guided by the voices of local people and the needs they share.

“Our mission is to support the community with the services they actually need,” Amanda says. “And to make sure people don’t have to reach absolute crisis before they ask for help.”

Together with Foodbank Queensland, Better Together Community Support in Atherton continues to nurture connection, strengthen resilience, and ensure that every member of the Atherton Tablelands community has access to nourishing food and caring support.

What began in a garage in Redbank Plains has quickly grown into something much bigger – a place where choice and community sit at the centre of every interaction.

For founders, Lisa and Stewart, the idea behind Acorn Pantry was never just about food. It was about recognising how quickly life can change, and how easily people can lose control over everyday decisions when money becomes tight.

“Often choice is the first thing people lose when they are counting their pennies,” Lisa says.

That belief shapes the way Acorn Pantry operates. Rather than pre‑packed bags or rigid systems, people are invited to shop in a space that feels familiar – shelves stocked with fresh produce, bread and pantry staples, priced simply and clearly.

The pantry offers a selection of fruit and vegetables, all available for people to pick themselves. One of the volunteers suggested that they should pre-bag the produce. Lisa shared she said no, “If the person coming in can choose their own lemons like any other grocery store, that is the whole point.”

After starting out from home, demand grew quickly. Word spread through the community, not through advertising but through people telling others about a place that treated them with respect.

“We started in our garage at Redbank Plains and it just got really busy,” Lisa says.

Moving into a dedicated space allowed Acorn Pantry to welcome even more people – families, pensioners, carers and individuals who might not otherwise access food support.

At Acorn Pantry, success is defined by the difference made in people’s lives, not financial figures. The focus is on how many individuals and families are reached and supported.

“We are working on how many people we’re helping rather than how much money we’re bringing in,” Lisa says. “For us, the growth is how many people can come through the door.”

That mindset flows through everything, from pricing to layout. With no confusing specials or complex calculations, people can shop with confidence. There are no prices ending in 99 cents or other tricks to make totals harder to figure out – every price is straightforward, so shoppers can easily keep track of their spending. “If you’ve only got $50, you can add it up in your head,” Lisa explains. “You’re already under enough stress. We want to make it easy, just a quiet, calm, happy experience.”

Community sits at the heart of Acorn Pantry, and that sense of connection shows up every day – often in unexpected ways. Volunteers come from all walks of life, many first walking through the door as customers themselves.

“You shop here, you help that person who helps that person who helps that person,” Lisa says. “It all comes back around.”

For Stewart, some of the most memorable moments have nothing to do with stock levels or logistics. “There was a carer who brought a whole group in,” he recalls. “They made a day out of the visit. They loved it.”

Those moments reinforce why Acorn Pantry exists – not just to provide food, but to create a welcoming space where people feel seen.

“People come in, they’re happy, they’re grateful, and that makes all of this worth it,” Stewart says.

Even as Acorn Pantry continues to evolve, Lisa is realistic about the challenges of growth. There is still plenty to work through, but the focus remains clear. “Everything we do, there’s a reason for it, and it’s to make it easier for the people coming in,” she says.

With the support of partners like Foodbank Queensland and a community that continues to show up for one another, Acorn Pantry is building something that goes far beyond food relief.

For nearly 20 years, Set Free Care has been quietly and consistently showing up for people on the Gold Coast – offering not just services, but safety and genuine human connection.

In the last year alone, their impact has been extraordinary. More than 10,000 meals were shared, over 4,000 showers provided and nearly 2,000 free grocery bags filled with food were placed into the hands of people who needed them most. Each number represents a person treated with respect, care and compassion.

When natural disasters have hit the Gold Coast, Set Free Care has stepped up without hesitation, opening their doors as an evacuation centre and becoming a place of refuge for people experiencing homelessness during dangerous weather events.

“Recently we were open six days and six nights, 24 hours a day. They slept in our hall because the weather was too rough,” said Ellen, Operations Manager at Set Free Care.

This work is made possible through strong community partnerships and a shared commitment to caring for others. “Without charities like Foodbank, OzHarvest and Orange Sky, we wouldn’t be able to do a lot of the work we do around here,” Ellen shared.

Run by dedicated staff and passionate volunteers, Set Free Care is a welcoming hub where many services come together under one roof. It is a place where people are known, seen and valued. Jeannie, one of Set Free Care’s committed staff sees this connection every day. “A lot of people come here every day. We pretty much know everyone who comes in and can then know who in new to the area.” New faces arrive each week, and everyone who walks through the doors is met with support, no matter their circumstances.

For many, Set Free Care becomes a lifeline during moments of deep uncertainty. “Many people can’t find their place when they start living in their car. Every week we have new people who have had to start living in their car or on the street,” Jeannie said.

What makes the centre truly special is the sense of community and shared care that grows within it. Volunteers – many with lived experience – play a powerful role in supporting others. “Lots of our volunteers have lived on the street and go out and tell them where to go. They help each other out and keep an eye on one another,” Jeannie explained.

That cycle of care can be transformative. Jeannie shared, “Some people that have come to Set Free Care have come from the street, they have connected with a rehabilitation service, then they come back and volunteer and ended up in homes.”

Today, two volunteers who are currently living on the street come in every day to support Set Free Care. “It keeps them busy and stops them from doing other stuff that they don’t want to do,” said Jeannie.

At the heart of everything is food, a powerful connector. Through daily meals, food hampers, showering facilities, an op shop and a permanent Orange Sky Laundry set-up, Set Free Care provides practical support alongside warmth and belonging. Their dining hall has become a place where people gather, connect and comfort one another, especially when facing some of life’s biggest challenges.

Through dignity-first care, strong partnerships and the tireless efforts of staff and volunteers, Set Free Care continues to make an incredible difference on the Gold Coast – reminding people that they matter, and that they are not alone.