It’s special to experience a moment of clarity as to your life direction and purpose. That’s exactly what Pastor Russell experienced in 1993 when visiting Bath, England. While there, Pastor Russell came across a woman who needed help. Speaking with her, Pastor Russell had an epiphany and recognised his
calling in life, helping others.

For the past 25 years, Pastor Russell and his wife Betty have been doing precisely that with Access Street Vans. Located in Mansfield, Access Street Vans stands as a beacon of hope and compassion. As a Member Charity of Foodbank Queensland, Access Street Vans dedicates its efforts to providing food relief and encouragement to those in need.

Picture this: everyday Queenslanders just like you, your family, or your friends, facing tough times. They’re cold, hungry, and scared, seeking refuge wherever they can find it. But thanks to Access Street Vans, help is on the way.

Access Street Vans serve as a lifeline for individuals and families facing food insecurity across Brisbane. Their goal is simple yet impactful: to help turn people’s lives around for the better.

Each week, the Access Street Vans team drives vans out to different parts of Brisbane and shares meals and prayers with those in need. Every Wednesday, their successful ‘Adopt-a-Pensioner’ program is run to support 20 to 30 individuals with food parcels. This program’s goal is to bring hope and dignity to Queensland’s older generation. All of this is provided free of cost.

The need for organisations like Access Street Vans is undeniable. From providing meals to those experiencing homelessness to supporting pensioners, their impact reaches far and wide.

In the heart of Hervey Bay, We Care 2 offers crucial assistance to address community needs amidst rising living expenses.

With picturesque coastal beaches and a gateway to K’gari, it is no wonder many call Hervey Bay home. But like many small regional cities and towns throughout Queensland, the silent epidemic of hunger is growing in many Hervey Bay households.

As a result, the need for community support continues to grow. We Care 2, a community group that supports the residents of Hervey Bay and the surrounding local areas is the helping hand many need to survive from week to week. They aim to ‘offer a rounded service to the community, not just with food but, with caring staff and volunteers who have a heart to help those in need and listen to those who are struggling.’

These families face a relentless cycle of financial stress, where even the smallest unexpected expense can tip the balance into crisis. The burden of high rent and living costs leaves them with little room to save or plan for the future. Thankfully, We Care 2 is there to lend a helping hand. Created from the heart to help people get through the pressures that they are in, to inspire and equip them for better outcomes in their lives, We Care 2 has helped many Queenslanders through crisis.

“The main success story we hear is just people who come in and say, ‘Thank you. Without you guys, I don’t know where I’d be. I don’t know how I’d be able to feed my family. I don’t know where my next steps would be.” – Tamara

Beyond providing immediate relief, We Care 2 aims to foster a sense of community and support. It’s a place where people can find not just material assistance, but also hope and guidance for a better future.

“The low-cost food is really helpful to pensioners, One lady, her rent was going up $50 a week. She can’t afford that, and her pension is not increasing so she has nowhere else for this money to come from. They rely on our food services and other things to be able to just get them through every week.”

This kind of assistance is crucial for those on fixed incomes, who often face impossible choices between essential needs like food and housing. This would not be possible without the partnership with Foodbank Queensland. Through Foodbank Queensland, We Care 2 can stock their extra choices of low-cost food centre, ensuring a steady supply of essential items. This collaboration allows them to offer affordable food options to those in need.  

“Together we can make a difference,” a favourite catchphrase of We Care 2, is especially appropriate given the relationship between Foodbank Queensland and We Care 2 working together to feed Queenslanders in need.

Together, with the help of your donations, both Foodbank Queensland and We Care 2 can continue to support Queenslanders. If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver.