For the last five years, Foodbank Queensland and FareShare Brisbane have been working closely together to support Queenslanders in need.

Foodbank Queensland plays a crucial role by providing the majority of ingredients for FareShare’s Brisbane kitchen. Foodbank takes pride in supplying these essential resources that FareShare transforms into nutritious, ready-to-eat meals for those in need. Working hand in hand, to ensure that donated food reaches its fullest potential, this partnership serves as a lifeline for individuals and families experiencing hardship in Queensland.

The produce Foodbank Queensland provides to FareShare includes fresh produce rescued from Queensland farms. This produce is donated directly to Foodbank due to several reasons, such as not meeting supermarket specifications or oversupply. Instead of this perfectly edible food going to waste, Foodbank rescues the produce and freely provides it to FareShare to prepare into meals.  Ben O’Donoghue, Foodbank Queensland Ambassador, joined James, Production Manager at FareShare Brisbane on a tour of the facility recently, Ben commented,

“It was amazing to be shown the impressive cooking facilities and kitchen at FareShare. The awesome work that Foodbank and FareShare complete together is essential, not only helping Queenslanders in need but also farmers and the environment.” – Ben

The rise in meal production has been essential, as the growing demand for support by FareShare and other food relief charities continues to rise.

“January saw a double in production of nutritious meals from 54,000 in 2023, to just over 109,000 meals in 2024.” – James

These meals are mostly packaged in a single-serve container, packed with protein and vegetables. These ready-to-eat meals include casseroles, stir-fry’s,  soups, pasta dishes and stews.  Each week, the menu changes depending on what produce, and groceries are donated. This requires the staff at FareShare to not only be experienced in the kitchen but also creative and flexible in their cooking with the added support of a 400 strong volunteer workforce.

“For many people, a FareShare meal will be the only meal of the day and our chefs do everything possible to make it count.”

After FareShare chefs cook up tasty meals, Foodbank Queensland distributes them to frontline charities. This partnership ensures that together, Foodbank and FareShare are helping as many Queenslanders as possible,

“We certainly can’t work without Foodbank. The support that Foodbank gives us as far as logistical support is huge. It’s invaluable. Produce received from Foodbank enables us to create a diverse & culturally appropriate nutritious meal for zero cost to charity agencies.  385,000 tonnes of surplus, rescued & donated produce last year has helped a vast number of families right across Queensland, from as far north as Mornington Is, Carins, Mt. Isa, Townsville, Dalby, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, St. George, Gold Coast.   – James

FareShare is also continuing to expand its other programs including its First Nations Program, ‘Meals for the Mob’, as well as creating non-perishable meals, ideal for providing food relief in remote and regional Australia, and for communities impacted by natural disasters.

As this partnership continues, Foodbank Queensland hopes to further expand its reach and impact to communities across the state, including distributing FareShare meals to rural Queensland.

However, this is not possible without your support. By donating to Foodbank Queensland, you can directly contribute to providing nutritious meals to those facing hardship in Queensland. Donate here to make a difference.

Stepping inside Redland Community Centre, you’ll be greeted by a variety of fruit, veg and clothes available for free. Should you require further relief, friendly staff and volunteers are ready and waiting to help.

From free counseling services, emergency relief, homelessness support, financial counseling, and food relief parcels, the Redland Community Centre offers a wide variety of services for anyone who finds themselves in need of assistance.

Recently, those who require this assistance has not only increased but also changed, as Ronan, Operations Manager at the Centre explained:

“It’s been busier, but it’s been different. What it has been is a shift in the demographic. The demographical shift that’s happened is about those who are working poor, the mum and dad, the families that, could just afford it before are now struggling. They’ve never had to access services before, so they’re accessing services now because they just can’t make ends meet. They’re working full time; they’re working their butt off.” – Ronan

Open five days a week, struggling families can access the support they need. Each day between 10 to 20 people use the Emergency Relief service available. Those accessing this program range from the ages of 15 to 80+. Allison, CEO of Redland Community Centre, spoke of one such elderly service user who had found herself in extreme circumstances. Allison explained:

“Four doors down from the centre, an elderly lady was eating cat food. Her house looked great, but inside she was struggling. She had children that were interstate, but she didn’t tell them. We got involved, we advised her not to eat the cat food and we gave her food. We phoned up her son, and her son was horrified. He said, ‘What?’ She didn’t say anything like that, and the elderly won’t. They don’t want to bother their children.”

The centre organised for the lady to fly down to her son, now reunited she is living a much better life. This is just one of the countless examples of how the Redland Community Centre betters the lives of community members. While over 80% of service users first connect with Redland Community Centre during a crisis, many find their other programs to also be of great assistance. Allison described the journey:

“When they arrive here, they are pretty desperate. They get serviced in Emergency Relief through the assessment with crisis support. It might be a home-cooked hot meal that we provide them. Then they’re moved through another program, it could be through Homeless United, which will pick them up and we will actively support that client to be housed if that’s what they want. Our focus is on the client.” – Allison

Homeless United, a program that began in 2017, started after Allison saw an unmet need in the Redland community. This saw 25 homeless individuals, each night of the week provided with a home-cooked meal. One requirement, Allison said was, “You joined our table. You didn’t take the meal and wander off into the darkness. We wanted you to come back and join society. Whatever that meant.”