Hamish Blake & Chrissie Swan join the Foodbank Family!

We’re high fiving ourselves silly to have these two on board as ambassadors.

Known for his national radio show with Andy Lee and more recently winning the hearts of Lego fans everywhere as host of Channel Nine’s Lego Masters, Hamish took part in our annual cycling event ‘The Hunger Ride’ in 2020, and was immediately keen to do more.

“I’m super proud to represent the work of Foodbank because they make an immediate difference to people in need in an area that couldn’t be simpler: food. Whether it’s families hit by bushfires, COVID-19 or refugees, Foodbank is there to, at the least, help them eat”.

We are thrilled to have him. Not only was he the The Hunger Ride’s biggest fundraiser in 2020 (amazing), but his enthusiasm is tops.

As one part of the Chrissy, Sam and Browny radio show on Nova, Chrissie first noticed our work in early 2020. “I watched with awe at how Foodbank Victoria heaped love and assistance on people doing it tough during the pandemic and the bushfires and thought: Gee, I wonder if they’d have me?”. Um, yes we would. We were so excited we even had one of our team create Chrissie her very own high vis vest. (shh, don’t tell Hamish).

Chrissie and Hamish will continue to help us spread the word through 2022. We might even put them to work on our hamper line. Let’s see if they can pack more hampers than Lizzo or Gordon Ramsey!

You might call us crazy but we have a HUGE goal this Christmas…Together with Gandel Foundation we can create ONE MILLION MEALS for Victorians in need.

Until midnight Tuesday, Gandel Foundation are doubling your donation dollar-for-dollar. Your kind gift today will create DOUBLE the meals and have DOUBLE the impact.

Victorians have been hit harder than ever in the past year. So we want to make sure families in need not only have good food on Christmas Day, but well into the New Year too.

Let’s do this Victoria!

SCA Embrace: Charity partnership with Foodbank Australia and Make-a-Wish Australia

13 December: SCA today announced a two-year partnership with Make-A-Wish Australia and Foodbank Australia as part of its charity program, SCA Embrace, commencing 1 January 2022.

Launched in 2016, SCA Embrace will continue its commitment to corporate social responsibility and the two charities will be provided with in-kind advertising campaigns, strategic support, and consumer insights as well as content and promotional support across SCA’s media assets. SCA staff will also be encouraged to be involved in areas such as creative ideation, research, local community activities, and volunteering opportunities.

SCA CEO, Grant Blackley, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Foodbank Australia and Make-A-Wish Australia. We are all very aware of the difficulties the non-for-profit sector has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we look forward to supporting both organisations for this two-year term.

“Since its inception in 2016, SCA Embrace has provided $135 million of in-kind advertising to our charity partners. To know that our people’s time and expertise, along with our broad media reach is making a noticeable impact to the lives of many Australians is both a privilege and pleasure on behalf of our company and people”.

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey, said: “The issue of hunger in Australia is largely hidden by stigma and shame, but the reality is we’re all likely to know someone who has gone hungry in the face of hardship. This invaluable partnership with Southern Cross Austereo will deliver Foodbank a national platform to help speak on behalf of those who wouldn’t otherwise have a voice and help us get food relief to every adult and child who needs it.

“Foodbank is currently feeding more than one million people each month, but sadly, we know there are many more who don’t ask for help. They may feel someone else needs help more than them, or they may feel ashamed or embarrassed. Through SCA Embrace, we hope to break the stigma and tell the nation that it is ok to ask for help. Life happens to us all and Foodbank will always be here to help. We couldn’t be more grateful to the SCA team for believing in our vision of an Australia without hunger and we look forward to a long and impactful relationship that changes the lives of vulnerable Australians.”

Make-A-Wish Australia CEO, Sally Bateman, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be selected as one of SCA’s charity partners. Helping critically ill children find hope is something we all have the power to do. With our ‘Be Inspired’ program, and this important partnership with SCA Embrace, we will be able to reach millions of Australians across the country and make more incredible wishes come true for children with critical illnesses. With over 800 children patiently counting down the days until their wish is possible due to the impacts of COVID-19, there has never been a more important time.”

FoodLegal partners with Foodbank Australia

7^th December 2021: Australia’s experts in Australian Food Law, FoodLegal have become an official supporter of Foodbank Australia, the country’s leading food and grocery relief organisation responsible for distributing 48.8 million kilograms of food and grocery relief to 2,950 charities nationwide in 2020.

FoodLegal will continue to provide legal assistance and help Foodbank navigate and validate the not-for-profits’ requirements and that of its national donors around the acceptance and distribution of donated food and groceries.

FoodLegal works with food businesses to provide tailored compliance solutions and advice for the Australian market. FoodLegal CEO, Cheryl McLeod says FoodLegal is excited to expand its relationship with Foodbank Australia. “We very much look forward to working more closely with Foodbank to support its objectives in distributing safe, suitable food to those in need.”

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey says this donated service will be invaluable. “We thoroughly welcome FoodLegal to the Foodbank family. As a national supporter the team’s expertise and knowledge will help us ensure that we, our donors and our charities have greater assurance that we are meeting all legal requirements of redistribution safety.”

Foodbank Australia provides food and grocery relief to more than 1 million Australians every month. It works with the entire Australian food and grocery industry including farmers, wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers to source fresh and manufactured foods as well as personal and household care items for people doing it tough.

Donations include stock that doesn’t meet industry specifications, is close to expiry or excess to requirements. In addition, companies also make donations as part of their corporate social responsibility commitments.

“We are really grateful for the team at FoodLegal. Working with the complexities of donated food and groceries has occupied so much of our time to ensure we get it right so having the experts from FoodLegal on board, who will be able to do it in a fraction of what we can, is just invaluable.” Ms Casey said.

https://foodlegal.com.au/

Foodbank celebrates support from the land

Friday 19^th November: Today on National Ag Day, Foodbank Australia celebrates and highlights the critical role our farmers, growers and producers play to ensure nutritious, fresh food relief is accessible to thousands of communities across the country.

Foodbank works actively with Australia’s generous agriculture industry to provide more than 17 million kilograms of fresh produce, milk, eggs, rice, grains, legumes and protein needed to assist the more than one million Australians each month receiving food relief through the Foodbank network.

Despite enduring some of the toughest periods on record, Australian growers, producers and farmers have continued to support Foodbank throughout. In 2020, Foodbank sourced 88 million meals for its charity partners – 30% of which was sourced directly from our agri programs – and more than 40% of the food and groceries distributed through the Foodbank network nationally goes to rural and regional areas.

This year, Foodbank Australia has extended National Farmers’ Federation’s Ag Day from one day on 19^th November, to an entire week to raise awareness of the support it receives from the Australian agriculture industry and highlight the gaps where support is still needed.

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey, explains, “We are so fortunate to have such strong relationships with our wonderful growers, farmers and producers who help us ensure those doing it tough have access to fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products, rice and so much more. We work with our partners all the way along our ‘surprise chain’ to rescue perfectly imperfect products, meaning we’re filling empty tummies rather than landfill, and ensuring our farmers’ hard work to produce world class food is not wasted. In addition, we have countless farmers and agribusinesses across the country making regular donations and engaging in seasonal programs to ensure we have a consistent supply of in-demand products year-round.

“This Ag Day, we not only want to say a massive thank you to everyone in the agri-sector, but we also want to celebrate this year’s theme, ‘Choose your #AgVenture’, highlighting the many and varied exciting careers in agriculture, both inside and beyond the farm gate. Whether you live in the city or in the country, there is an exciting career to be found in agriculture. My personal AgVenture in farm lobby groups and at Foodbank has been spent living in the city, but my connection to agriculture has been constant and enduring, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be working closely with National Farmers’ Federation members right across Australia as we strive towards zero hunger in Australia”.

Last month Foodbank revealed in the Foodbank Hunger Report 2021 that one in six Australian adults haven’t had enough to eat in the last year and, even more shockingly, 1.2 million children have gone hungry.

“We produce enough food and groceries to feed our population three times over, yet we know there are many people across Australia going without. Foodbank provides an avenue to connect those vulnerable Australians with essential food relief, much of which is donated by Australia’s world class farmers, growers and producers.

“This week is a chance for us to highlight our innovative agri-programs, securing a steady supply of everyday essentials like pasta, pasta sauce, cereal and sausages. In a country the size of Australia these programs couldn’t happen without the added support of equipment and transport providers to help us get it to where it is needed the most.”

Throughout the week, Foodbank will be highlighting its agri program partners and how their products make a difference to the lives of many in our communities across the country every day.

Foodbank would like to thank its national donors, agri-program partners and industry body supporters.

CELEBRATING FARMERS FEEDING AUSTRALIA

This year, we have extended National Farmers’ Federation’s Ag Day from one day on 19^th November, to an entire week to raise awareness of the support we receive from the Australian agriculture industry in the form of many unique programs and highlight the gaps where support is still needed.

Foodbank works actively with the selfless and generous agri-industry to ensure we provide more than 17 million kilograms of fresh produce, milk, eggs and protein needed to assist the more than one million Australians each month doing it tough and who might otherwise go without.

Despite enduring some of the toughest periods on record, Australian growers, producers and farmers have continued to support Foodbank over the years. In 2020, Foodbank sourced 88 million meals for its charity partners – 30% of which was sourced directly from our agri programs and 40% was distributed back into helping those in regional and rural areas.

(Image Provided by Australian Country Choice)

We are so fortunate to have such strong relationships with our wonderful growers, farmers and producers who help us ensure those doing it tough have access to fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products, rice and so much more.

says Brianna Casey, CEO Foodbank Australia

We work with our partners all the way along our ‘surprise chain’ to rescue perfectly imperfect products, meaning we’re filling empty tummies rather than landfill, and ensuring our farmers’ hard work to produce world class food is not wasted. We are also fortunate to have farmers and agribusinesses across the country making regular donations and engaging in seasonal programs to ensure we have a consistent supply of products year-round.

This AgDay, we not only want to say a massive thank you to everyone in the agri-sector, but we also want to celebrate this year’s theme, ‘Choose your #AgVenture’, highlighting the many and varied exciting careers in agriculture, both inside and beyond the farm gate. Whether you live in the city or in the country, there is an exciting career to be found in agriculture.

“My AgVenture to date has been spent living in the city, but my connection to agriculture has been constant and enduring, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be working closely with National Farmers’ Federation members right across Australia as we strive towards zero hunger in Australia” says Brianna Casey, CEO Foodbank Australia.

Last month Foodbank revealed in the Foodbank Hunger Report 2021 that one in six Australian adults haven’t had enough to eat in the last year and, even more shockingly, 1.2 million children have gone hungry.

We produce enough food and groceries to feed our population three times over, yet we know there are many people across Australia going without. Foodbank provides an avenue to connect those vulnerable Australians with essential food relief, much of which is donated by Australia’s world class farmers, growers and producers.

This week is a chance for us to highlight the wonderful agri-programs we are fortunate to have, enabling us to produce everyday essentials like sausages and pasta. In a country the size of Australia these programs also couldn’t happen without the support of equipment and transport providers to help us get it to where it is needed the most.

Throughout the week, Foodbank will be highlighting its agri program partners and how their products make a difference to the lives of many in our communities across the country every day.

TRENT’S STORY

Serious illness leaves single dad Trent struggling to feed his young kids.

Single father Trent has three young children under eight to feed: Evie, Finn, and Georgie.

When Trent and his partner separated, they had shared custody of their children. But two years ago, when the kids were no longer safe to stay with their mother, due to her substance abuse and violence, Trent took sole custody.

Raising three kids on your own is never easy, but Trent is also battling a serious illness and struggles to meet the family’s medical costs and living expenses, which continue to rise as the kids get older. He can hardly afford to put food on the table.

“I feel like such a failure. Even though I’m doing everything I can to give my kids the best life possible. But with my disability and being a single dad that relies on government support, it’s honestly tough to make ends meet.” – Trent

Trent loves his kids and is trying his best… but week after week, he’s found it difficult just to afford enough food to put on the table.

trent and his kids at the park

“I’ve had to tighten up the budget, I can’t do it anymore. The kids were used to getting their little treats, but now they get sad because I can’t afford them… They do understand a little bit, though.”

After years of struggling to make ends meet, Trent reached out to one of Foodbank Queensland’s local Member Charities.

“Receiving a Foodbank Hamper is awesome. I was overwhelmed by how much was in them… it made a really good impact in our life.”

Trent now has more energy to play with his kids and can help them learn to enjoy veggies and other nutritious ingredients.

“Because of the hampers, Evie eats her veggies now. I have to mash it all up into a big, mashed pile, like mashed potato and all that, but she eats her vegetables!”

With the certainty of fresh fruit and vegetables and essential groceries in the pantry, Trent can afford to pay for other living expenses and can sometimes buy those little extras that mean so much to Evie, Finn, and Georgie.

“Thanks to Foodbank, I’ve realised it’s okay to ask for help… especially for single mums, single dads, grandparents. There are so many less fortunate people out there, that do need help. Every single little donation to Foodbank all helps out in the end.” – Trent

Trent’s family is just one of many in Queensland struggling to find enough to eat right now.

Your generosity will help families like Trent’s receive the essential groceries they need to get back on their feet.

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to a family doing it tough. Thank you for making a difference.

HELP HUNGRY QUEENSLAND FAMILIES LIKE TRENT’S

Alex knows first hand what it’s like to go without.

Alex is a mother of four beautiful children who are as amazing as their mum: 11-year-old Amelyia, eight-year-old Izabella, six-year-old Archie and five-year-old Peyton.

The courage with which Alex is fighting to keep all four of her kids safe from abuse, poverty and the pandemic will leave you inspired. You see, although Alex and her children are holding on right now, they are not yet out of the woods. In fact, Alex is worried that the festive period may be their hardest yet.

What Alex has endured is unimaginable. Alex shared with us that the downward spiral that led to empty cupboards began when the father of her children turned to violence.

She did escape, even though she knew doing so would leave her with the challenge of bringing in an income and still parenting four young children on her own. Somehow Alex managed to keep her family afloat, which is no small achievement when you consider her work involves providing in-home aged care and disability care – an exhausting job and one filled with anxiety throughout this pandemic.

It was a difficult time, I’m sorry to tell you that things were a bout to get worse. As Alex explains:

“I began a relationship with a man who seemed so gentle and kind, but to my horror, I found out he was abusing my daughters. I had to get the kids away from him fast, and waiting in hope that I might receive social housing was simply not an option. So I rented a house privately in another town, and moved my family far away from him.

It was a terrifying time, but we managed it – and thank goodness we did, as it was only a few weeks later that the pandemic took hold and we had our first lockdown. The thought of being stuck inside a house with that man…it’s too awful to contemplate.”

Alex was fortunate indeed to escape when she did. It was her quick thinking and courage that spared her own kids such a fate, but doing so came at a desperately high cost:

“Trying to find the money for a private rental during COVID has been a nightmare. With four little kids, it’s often just not possible to make ends meet.

It’s still hard for me to speak about the moment I realised there simply wasn’t enough food in the pantry, or money in my account to get us through the week. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more ashamed than I did in that moment. I took a deep breath and told myself, Okay. I need to sort this out.’ I swallowed my pride and with Peyton, my youngest by my side, we went down to the Community Centre. I tried to make it seem like and adventure.

Having her with me reminded me why I was there: for my kids. She helped me put my feelings of inadequacy to one side. I can’t tell you how relieved I felt when I saw the food that was laid out before us – food that I later learned came directly from Foodbank Victoria. I went home that day, hand in hand with Peyton, feeling a thousand times lighter.”

Alex’s story is one of many. It is thanks to the generosity of Victorians like you that we can continue to ensure food is on the table of those most vulnerable.

Foodbank Hunger Report 2021

This year, we released the Foodbank Hunger Report 2021, which revealed that 1 in 6 adults in Australia haven’t had enough to eat in the last year, and even more shockingly, 1.2 million children have gone hungry.

The report this year uncovers the compounding reality of food insecurity in the time of COVID-19. More than 70% of people going hungry go a whole day without eating at least once a week. 43% of children who live in severe food insecurity go a whole day without eating once a week. Hunger is affecting people across all demographics right now, many are young working families, retirees, and indigenous people living in regional Australia.

The report, now in its 10^th year, highlights that the pandemic continues to deliver challenges that are exacerbating pre-existing issues in our community. In addition to those who were already struggling before COVID-19, the pandemic has caused others to experience vulnerability for the first time. In fact, more than one in three of last year’s food insecure people in NSW (39%) had never been in that position before.

The report highlights that food insecurity is not restricted to the ‘obvious’ vulnerability groups in the community such as homeless people and the unemployed. It shows people of every age, living alone, in families and in groups are susceptible. Food insecurity is shown to affect people in cities right through to those in remote areas and surprisingly, it affects more people in some form of employment (64%) than those who have none.

The Foodbank Hunger Report provides a snapshot of the prevalence and depth of the issues of food insecurity as well as insights into the day-to-day experience of people in our community who are doing it tough.

THANK YOU WOOLWORTHS

AND YOUR AMAZING CUSTOMERS

In September, Woolworths stores around the nation offered their customers to round up their total for Foodbank. With each donation being under $1, we were blown away to raise an astounding $770,000. This money will help us get food and groceries where they are needed the most around Australia. A massive thank you to Woolworths for helping us through thick and thin over the past 20 years and for having the most amazing customers.