Featuring our Community Partner: Survivors R Us

At Foodbank NSW & ACT, we work with over 700 organisations located across the state and territory that we call our ‘Community Partners’. They vary from small, grassroots community groups to larger charitable organisations. Our Community Partners order and receive food directly from our warehouse in Western Sydney to distribute to local families in need.

This month, we’re featuring Survivors R Us (SRU), a Foodbank community partner based in Lake Macquarie, NSW.

Survivors R Us (SRU), founded in March of 2017, is a not-for-profit charity and benevolent institution that supports survivors of domestic violence, homelessness and unemployment.

Maria Martin, the founder of SRU, embarked on a mission born from her own experiences. Fifteen years ago, she found herself battling domestic violence while doing her best to provide for her daughter. The journey was filled with challenges, from securing affordable and nutritious meals, to finding shelter. Despite the hardships, Maria stayed resilient and determined.

At Foodbank NSW & ACT, we rely on incredible organisations like Survivors R Us to get food relief to families in need. If you’re in the Lake Macquarie area needing food support, SRU are available Monday to Friday on (02) 4953 7108 or you can visit their website: survivorsrusincorporated.com/weeklyevents.

To connect to other Foodbank community partners in your area, please visit our Find Food portal.

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4 quick and easy yogurt recipes

Our friends at Chobani and Woolworths have teamed up to introduce two new tubs of blended Strawberry and Passionfruit Greek yogurt!

Every tub sold helps Foodbank provide 6 meals to Aussies in need. These flavours are available exclusively at Woolworth stores nationwide until September 2024.

To celebrate this vital collaboration, we‘re sharing 4 quick and easy yogurt recipes: 

Thank you to Chobani, Woolworths and our incredible community for supporting us on our mission to fight hunger.

With over 1.2 million households in NSW & the ACT alone experiencing food insecurity last year, campaigns like these play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable supplies of food and groceries for families facing tough times.   

Our partnership with Foodbank is more than just a collaboration; it’s a friendship built on a shared mission to use food as a force for good.

 

We are always looking for new and innovative ways to support Foodbank and make a tangible impact. Through our close collaboration, Foodbank has highlighted the pressing need for fresh produce, and we’ve tailored this initiative to address this directly.”

 

– Tim Browne, GM ESG & General Counsel Chobani

Are you looking for more quick and easy yogurt recipes? Download our recipe cards for Greek Yogurt Waffles, Yogurt Jelly Slice and Passionfruit Yogurt Overnight Oats.

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit our Find Food portal to connect with a Foodbank community partner in your area.

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Raising awareness one grain of rice at a time

Rice, bench presses and social media. Who knew putting these three together could lead to over 690 kilograms donated to fight hunger?

Over the last few months, local Sydneysider, Gunwoo Kim, aka “The Rice Guy”, has captivated the online world with a unique and charitable twist to a trending challenge that has gone viral.

Andy Moore, Foodbank NSW & ACT’s Marketing & Fundraising General Manager says,

It’s not every day we get to be part of something so uniquely impactful, and we’re grateful to Gunwoo for joining us in the fight against hunger and making a tangible difference to the lives of Australians going hungry every day.

 

Sadly, 1.2 million households experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months which is 37% of all NSW & ACT households and 105,000 more than in 2022 – something we’re absolutely committed to changing. It is through initiatives like this, and the generosity of our communities that we’re able to do something about that. With the support of people like Gunwoo, we’re able to distribute over 65,000 meals every day to Aussies doing it tough.”

Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook for more exciting updates as this unique challenge continues to feed more hungry families doing it tough. 

If you or someone you know needs support, please visit our Find Food portal to connect with a Foodbank community partner in your area. 

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Featuring our Community Partner, Carevan Blacktown

At Foodbank NSW & ACT, we work with over 700 organisations located across the state and territory that we call our ‘Community Partners’. They vary from small, grassroots community groups to larger charitable organisations. Our Community Partners order and receive food directly from our warehouse in Western Sydney to distribute to local families in need.

This month, we’re featuring Carevan Blacktown, a Foodbank community partner based in Western Sydney, NSW.

Carevan Blacktown, founded by teachers at Norwest Christian and Tyndale Public School, emerged in response to the community’s need to address food waste and support people facing financial hardship.

Collaborating with teachers and tech groups, the charity began by repurposing excess food that would otherwise go to waste. Under the leadership of Andrew Scott, now the Chief Executive Officer, Carevan Blacktown has expanded its operations to include a dedicated kitchen team of volunteers and receives generous donations of food from individuals and organisations alike.

This growth transformed the charity from a small initiative into a vital community resource. Caroline Del Aguila, a registered nurse at Red Cross LifeBlood, met Andrew and learned of Carevan Blacktown in 2013. Inspired by the cause and Andrew’s dedication, Caroline joined the team, fuelling their mission to combat food waste and provide essential meals to those in need.

Carevan Blacktown has a firsthand view of the sharp rise in demand for food relief felt across Australia. They began by serving a handful of people and now serve 130-150 community members per night, with Andrew even personally delivering meals to those unable to travel.

People come to us to save money on meals and we’re finding the demographic changing as the cost living continues to rise.

 

And then there is the shame aspect of reaching out for help – our communities feel like they ‘should be able to help themselves’ but the reality is, average families aren’t able to make ends meet like they used to.”

 

– Caroline Del Aguila

Despite the charity facing financial constraints and volunteer shortages, Caroline and Andrew remain committed to expanding Carevan Blacktown’s reach.

Through partnerships with organisations like Foodbank NSW & ACT, Carevan Blacktown continues to provide nutritious meals and essential services to families in need.

We provide a range of services these days, but food supplies are at the core of our service and Foodbank are critical and incredibly valuable to what we do. The fresh produce they provide makes such a difference too”.

 

– Caroline Del Aguila

Carevan Blacktown continues to evolve to meet community’s needs, moving their operations to a warehouse to better facilitate food relief and collaborating with Westmead Hospital for health screening.

It can be hard work but is very rewarding. We are an amazing team, blessed with a terrific lead in Andrew and an awesome dedicated ‘family’ of volunteers who care about the community we serve.”

 

– Caroline Del Aguila

At Foodbank NSW & ACT, we rely on incredible organisations like Carevan Blacktown to get food relief to families in need. If you’re in the Western Sydney area needing food support, you can visit Carevan Blacktown at 1 Freeman Street, Lalor Park NSW 2147 on Tuesday nights from 7.15 pm – 8.30 pm. To learn more, visit their website carevanblacktown.org.au or contact info@carevanblacktown.org.au.

To connect to other Foodbank community partners in your area, please visit our Find Food portal.

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