Brisbane Markets helps provide 590,400 meals to people facing hunger

Brisbane Markets Limited is one of Foodbank Queensland’s valued partners helping us supply nutritious food to hungry Queenslanders.

Working together, more than 328,000 kilograms of fresh food is collected by Foodbank Queensland at Brisbane Markets each year and distributed to Queenslanders in need. That’s the equivalent of more than 590,400 meals to help hungry Queenslanders put food on the table.

Luke Leeson, Communication Manager at Brisbane Markets, said as Queensland’s only central fruit and vegetable market, the Brisbane Produce Market was the state’s most important centre for the marketing and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables.

“The Brisbane Markets forms a vital link in the supply chain between growers of fresh produce and over 800 registered buyers, including independent supermarkets, retailers, food processors, secondary wholesalers and the food service industry.”

“More than 700 million kilograms of fresh produce, valued at $2 billion, passes through the Brisbane Markets every year,” Luke said.

With the help of Brisbane Markets, many wholesalers donate to Foodbank Queensland, some of which have been donating for more than 15 years to help fight hunger across the state.

Foodbank Queensland Food Supply Manager, said Foodbank was proud to work with Brisbane Markets to rescue food, reduce waste, and fight hunger.

“Sadly, one in five people in our community, are in crisis at some point each year, dealing with the anguish and despair of not knowing where the next meal will come from. Every food donation, big or small, makes a very real difference to people suffering from hunger.”

“Donating surplus or imperfect food enables Brisbane Markets wholesalers to directly provide benefits to people who are living in disadvantaged circumstances whilst having a positive impact on the environment.”

Foodbank works closely with retailers, farmers and manufacturers throughout Australia who donate fresh, ambient, chilled and frozen food, as well as personal care and household items to support people in need.

Our wonderful food donors help us ensure that our shelves are never empty, and our Members can continue distributing food across Queensland to those who need it most. A big thank you to all of our food donors for your continued generosity.

If you’re in the food industry and are interested in becoming a food donor, please click here.

Harvest Rain Christian Care provides vital food relief across Ipswich region

Harvest Rain Christian Care is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 250 Member Charities focused on assisting disadvantaged people and people experiencing crisis from across the Ipswich and surrounding regions – primarily through the provision of food support.

The community charity’s support programs, which all operate from the Tivoli Drive In, assist approximately 60,000 people from across the Ipswich region.

Fred Muys, Harvest Rain Christian Care Executive Director, said he was grateful to have been receiving food from Foodbank Queensland since 2007 to help Harvest Rain Christian Care grow its vital food relief programs.

“We operate a Community Food Co-op which provides battlers with the opportunity to source groceries and other items for a nominal handling fee, plus options to receive free bakery, dairy and fresh produce,” Fred explains.

“We also operate a community kitchen which produces more than 2,500 wholesome pre-cooked and frozen meals every week for distribution to needy families – both through our own agency and through other charities and community groups across the region,” he said.

Their frozen meals project also supports unemployed youth by offering employment and work skills training opportunities in hospitality, where trainees work in a commercial grade kitchen to produce nutritious meals, from the food provided by Foodbank, to support people in need.

Since COVID-19, the team at Harvest Rain Christian Care have commenced a home delivery service to support the increasing number of people experiencing hardship, including the elderly and many who are unable to access support due to lockdowns and isolation.

Harvest Rain Christian Care is sadly just one of many food relief charities who have seen an increase in demand, with charities in Ipswich currently supporting, on average, double the number of people on a weekly basis, compared to February last year prior to COVID-19 lockdowns.

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.

If you are a Queensland charity, Foodbank Queensland membership is a great way to support your food relief projects, offering your organisation a reliable source of food and groceries all year round.

Ashley had to quickly find a way to feed
her four children.

A year marred by personal anguish, housing insecurity and the pandemic left Ashley and her four kids eating below the poverty line.

Supporting four kids, aged 8, 7, 5 and 2, has always been tough, but Ashley, 28, has managed to scrape by. Then last year, the young mum from Warwick faced a series of major challenges that turned her life upside down.

Sadly, Ashley’s relationship with her partner had broken down. He continued to live in the house but would not contribute, so Ashley had to cover food and bills for the family alone. Then the pandemic hit, and jobs dried up in Warwick. There was little chance of finding work. In a final blow, the house Ashley rented was sold and she had to move out – but there were no other homes in her budget.

“I’m a strong person and it takes a lot for me to get upset, but here I was trying to cover all food, bills, fuel and school costs on my own, with four kids under eight. There were times I’d have to borrow meat, milk or bread off people I knew, just to get us through. It was really hard.” – Ashley

To ensure her kids were fed, Ashley would do a careful fortnightly shop to stretch her money as far as she could. She knew healthy foods like fruit and vegetables were critical for her kids’ wellbeing, but with her changing circumstances, many staples were now out of reach. Things were so bad that Ashley’s two eldest kids would sometimes go to school with just an apple to eat. Ashley herself was meant to follow a special diet to manage Crohn’s disease, but she could not even afford the most basic of meals.

“Some nights, if there wasn’t enough dinner I would go without or have a sandwich after the kids went to bed.” – Ashley

Then one day, just before Christmas, things reached a new low. After paying her bills, Ashley discovered she had only $100 left to feed her family for the next two weeks.

In desperation, she went straight to her local church to ask for help. Thanks to generous people like you and Foodbank’s Member Charities, Ashley could be offered a Foodbank hamper in her crisis.

With so much going on, Ashley is overjoyed to know that in weeks when money is scarce, a Foodbank hamper can fill four young bellies. In it, she can find the staples to make a nutritious and filling spaghetti bolognaise, or a stir fry that she and all the kids enjoy.

“Right now, I am doing everything on my own and it’s hard to ask for help. When I did ask, Foodbank helped in a big way. Without that help, I’d still have to ask people I know to borrow food, so this has made a big difference – thank you.” – Ashley

Many regional towns like Warwick are still reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic, including joblessness and housing instability. For those families already eating close to the poverty line like Ashley’s, your support has never been more vital.

Your generosity will help families like Ashley’s receive the essential groceries they need to get back on their feet. Thank you for making a difference.

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to someone facing hunger like Ashley.