drive-thru food relief

On Friday, 23 July 2021, we opened our warehouse for a drive-thru service.

Please note, this service occurred in the past. We are not currently offering a drive-thru service.

With Victoria experiencing its fifth lockdown (and the third lockdown for 2021), our team saw a need to get healthy food to as many people as possible. But COVID restrictions meant we had to be safe and smart about how to implement our plan.

So, on Friday, 23 July 2021, we opened our warehouse for a drive-thru service.

With an amazing effort from our staff and volunteers, as well as traffic controllers managing the flow of people, we were able to provide more than 1,200 hampers of food to Victorians doing it tough during the lockdown.

Check out some of the photographs from the event below.

Nestlé helps to make 1.2m meals with first-ever custom product for Foodbank

Nestlé has proudly partnered with Foodbank to create the first ever designed-for-Foodbank custom product, with more than 1.2 million serves being made to help support people in need.

19th May 2021

MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole is a recipe base that turns almost any combination of protein and vegetables into a delicious meal for six. By partnering with Foodbank, this versatile product will help people who’ve received food relief to create a delicious meal from the food they receive, and minimise food waste.

MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole recipe base was made possible thanks to a team of 12 partners brought together as part of Foodbank’s unique MAGGI Collaborative Supply Program: Olam Spices, GrainCorp Foods, Fonterra, GS Hall, Dominion Salt, NZ Sugar, Tate & Lyle, Boxer & Co, Huhtamaki, Labelmakers, Oji Fibre Solutions and Nestlé.

Each partner donated their resources and time to create this product that will go directly to Foodbank and the charities they support. The recipe base was proudly developed and produced by Nestlé in Cambria Park, NZ.

Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey said, “Food insecurity continues to be a very real issue for many people as they struggle day-to-day to make ends meet.

“Foodbank receives a huge range of donated food every day. MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole recipe base will be the ultimate value-add, enabling people to easily prepare wholesome, tasty meals.

“The past 12 months have been exceptionally challenging. In fact, in 2020 we saw a 47% increase in demand for food relief from pre-COVID-19. Many people continue to face financial pressures – and thousands have been affected by recent floods, as well as those still recovering from the bushfires last year.

“We are so grateful to Nestlé and other partners who have led the creation of this product, and so generously donated their goods and services.”

Nestlé General Manager of Foods, Kristina Czepl said, “We understand that food relief depends on what is available, and people can get a mix of items and not necessarily know how to turn them into a nutritious meal.

“Our team is passionate about supporting the community and relished the opportunity to put together a product that is versatile so that people can use any ingredients they have or that are affordable, to create a nutritious meal – that’s delicious too.

“The development of MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole recipe base would not have been possible without the support and generous donations of our partners in the supply chain.”

The MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole recipe base, which features a tomato and mushroom flavour profile, will be rolled out in the new MAGGI recyclable packaging to Foodbanks across Australia and New Zealand from late May 2021.

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health provides vital support to South East Queensland Indigenous population

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 250 Member Charities providing vital support services to Queenslanders in need. IUIH was established in 2009 by the four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services in South East Queensland to provide for the health needs of Australia’s largest Indigenous population.

IUIH Nurse Supervisor Rebecca Edwards said emergency food relief, in the form of food hampers, is part of the ‘wrap around’ service they provide to families seeking support.

“By helping reduce the immediate worry of getting food on the table, we are able to free up space to work with families towards their other goals. One of our key principles in our program is self-efficacy, so in conjunction with providing food hampers, we also empower our families with nutritional and cooking education, budgeting, and meal planning,” she said.

Through their emergency food relief program, IUIH receives food from Foodbank to primarily support first-time mums having Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies.

“The Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program (ANFPP) is a nurse-led home visiting program which empowers and informs first-time Indigenous mums or mums whose partner is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and supports them to reach their personal goals and grow strong, healthy families. Our families access varying levels of support depending on their needs, including financial, social and housing support,” Rebecca said.

While visiting the team at IUIH, we had the pleasure of meeting Kaytana, one of the first-time mums receiving a hamper that day, and her 6-month-old son. Kaytana told us that her and her partner both lost their jobs during COVID-19, and with her partner being unable to access Government support, they have been struggling to afford life’s essentials ever since.

Kaytana was delighted to be receiving a hamper filled with food and groceries, including rice, pasta, sauces, canned vegetables, cereal, milk, personal care items and baby products.

“Thank you, Foodbank! As a mum struggling to afford food for my family, the Foodbank hampers help me so much,” Kaytana said.

IUIH Nurse Supervisor Rebecca said Foodbank allows IUIH to provide initial food stability to families like Kaytana’s, which enables IUIH to continue working with and supporting families in other aspects of their lives.

“We started using Foodbank in 2018 to support our clients and families, and it has been invaluable ever since,” Rebecca said.

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.

“I felt like the
worst mother on the planet”

From the outside, Renee’s family looked like your typical Australian household…

Behind the scenes, Renee and Grant were making heartbreaking sacrifices just to make ends meet. They would regularly go days without eating just so their children wouldn’t go hungry.

Emily, Nicolaas and Zoe – Renee and Grant’s eldest children – would often skip breakfast to make sure that there was enough bread for everyone’s sandwiches at lunch time.

The hardest weeks, Renee would go days without showering to conserve the gas in their gas bottles for cooking.

An accident would change Grant and Renee’s life forever

The family’s troubles began with a moment of bad luck – the sort that could happen to any one of us at any time. Grant, a tow truck driver by trade, was finishing his work day when he slipped from his truck. He fell over a metre onto the asphalt, breaking six ribs and badly twisting his ankle.

“Our financial troubles began almost immediately. It was shocking how fast things fell apart. With Grant unable to work, we thought his work insurance would cover our bills. But they were only willing to pay a quarter of his wage.”

The pain from his injuries meant Grant was unable to work or to do much help take care of their two young children at home. Renee had no option but to give up her part-time job.

“So any chance that I could make up some of his lost income went out the window.”

Another set back

Just as Grant was beginning to get mobile again, he experienced a hernia that required surgery. This meant more time out, more and medical bills. This time, the insurance company weren’t willing to pay so much as a dollar to help them.

With bills piling up, Renee and Grant began to skip meals, trying to hide the truth from their children.

“When you’re forced to send your kids to school with half a sandwich and half an apple each, and they have to eat that in front of their friends, hiding the truth isn’t possible. And the truth was, I just felt like the absolute worst mother on the planet.”

Hope for the future

Renee and Grant were prepared to starve themselves in order to keep their children fed, but they knew their sacrifices wouldn’t be enough. So Renee seized on the only help she could find.

“I met a wonderful woman called Paula who introduced me to Foodbank. And I went there, and it was beautiful and any shame I felt disappeared as I went through that door.”

Unfortunately, Renee’s story is all too familiar. Cuts to government support are bound to have impacts on the lives of vulnerable Australians – just like Renee and her family.

You can help a family like Renee’s to put food on their tables.

EVERY $1 DONATED
IS 2 MEALS CREATED

Foodbank volunteers power the fight against hunger

Foodbank Queensland would like to recognise and celebrate the significant contribution of our generous team of volunteers. Last year, 324 Foodbank Queensland volunteers dedicated over 15,500 hours to help Queenslanders experiencing hunger. During a year of devastating bushfires, drought, floods and then a global pandemic, our volunteers helped us to continue delivering Foodbank Queensland’s essential food relief services – from sorting food donations and packing food hampers, to driving Foodbank’s purple trucks to rescue and deliver food across Queensland to support people in crisis.

To the hundreds of generous volunteers donating their time and skills to Foodbank Queensland, thank you. You are a big part of why we continue to rescue and distribute enough food to support more than 48,000 Queenslanders per week.

Marlynn loves to help people

During the midst of the pandemic, Marlynn began volunteering at Foodbank Queensland packing COVID-19 food relief hampers to support Queenslanders in crisis. One year later, Marlynn is now one of Foodbank Queensland’s valued donation sorters, helping our Member Charities easily access sorted food relief products and pre-packed orders for their vital food relief programs.

“When I retired, I wanted to donate my time to a reputable, well admired organisation. I found this in Foodbank Queensland. The knowledge that my efforts are instantaneous and go out to a large and varied group of individuals requiring such basic assistance, is gratifying and rewarding.”

“I have met the most warming and caring people at Foodbank Queensland who inspire me to continue to offer my support. I am so proud to work at Foodbank Queensland.” – Marlynn

Glenn wants to help families just like his

For over a year, Glenn has generously been volunteering at Foodbank Queensland every Friday, sorting mixed food donations from farms and retailers that arrive at Foodbank.

“I had been looking for a charity to join for a while but couldn’t decide on one. During the COVID-19 lockdown, my employer gave us a list of charities we could volunteer at part time. I chose Foodbank Queensland because when I was younger, I grew up in a household with a lot of poverty and domestic violence and we were helped a lot by a food relief organisation. At the time I knew no better, but as I got older, I was thankful that someone had helped us. Quite often they were the difference between whether we had a meal to eat or not.”

“I like to think that I could be helping a family that could be in the same situation we were. The people that I work with at Foodbank Queensland are just terrific caring human beings. The world would do well to have more like them.” – Glenn

Suzie wants to make a difference

The pandemic didn’t stop Suzie from helping people in need! In May 2020, Suzie lost her job at Flight Centre, due to COVID-19. While others were forced into lock down, Suzie wanted to use her free time to help people in need, so she started volunteering for Foodbank Queensland to support people in crisis.

“Volunteering at Foodbank Queensland is such an important and rewarding part of my life. Not only do the Foodbank team make me feel so valued, but it’s also an incredible feeling knowing that every day I volunteer at Foodbank Queensland, I can help one more mother, child, grandparent or vulnerable member of our community who are struggling to put food on the table.” – Suzie

Thank you to all of Foodbank Queensland’s volunteers for the vital role you play in fighting Queensland’s hunger crisis.

Volunteer at Foodbank Queensland

We value diversity and believe everyone can make a difference. By joining the Foodbank Queensland team as a volunteer, you will make a direct and positive community impact – helping us to provide food for over 25 million meals every year.

Regardless of your skills or experience, there are plenty of ways you can get involved. From administration to warehouse work, and driving to customer service roles, so check out our volunteer opportunities and join us in the fight against hunger!

Foodbank Queensland founder Ian Brusasco AO AM passes aged 92.

It is with great sadness that Foodbank Queensland acknowledge the passing of Foodbank Queensland Founder, Ian Brusasco AO AM, on Thursday 13 May, aged 92. Brusasco established Foodbank Queensland with former Brisbane Lord Mayor, Clem Jones AO and solicitor, David Muir, in 1995 to address critical food relief needs effecting children, families, and individuals across the state.

Experiencing hardship in early life, Brusasco was known for calling Foodbank his greatest achievement and together with wife Patricia, provided the seed money for the Foodbank Queensland Foundation to encourage others to donate and to ensure the long-term viability of the organisation.

“I know what it is like to be poor and to go without. That’s why Foodbank gives me the greatest satisfaction, because I’ve made a real difference.” – Ian Brusasco AO AM

Since 1995, Foodbank Queensland has sourced and rescued over 155 million kilograms of food, providing more than 252 million nutritious meals to Queenslanders experiencing hunger. Brusasco was a Chairman and a Director before stepping down in 2016, he last visited Foodbank Queensland in October 2020 to celebrate the charity’s 25th birthday.

Spending many decades serving as chairman and director on a variety of boards, Brusasco will be remembered for distinguished service to the community of Queensland.

Foodbank Queensland held a minute’s silence at 10am Monday 17 May in Brusasco’s honour.

Photo Credit, Courier Mail.

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE: SLOW COOKED BEEF CASSEROLE RECIPE

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 2 hours

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

2 tsp olive oil
625g gravy beef, cut into 3cm pieces
1 brown onion, thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled, halved, thinly sliced
2 celery sticks, thinly sliced diagonally
400g can diced tomatoes
MAGGI Hearty One Pot Recipe Base
3 cups (750ml) reduced-salt beef stock

METHOD

Heat oil in a large casserole pan over medium-high heat. Cook beef, in 4 batches, turning occasionally, for 3 mins or until browned all over. Transfer to a bowl.
Add onion, carrot and celery to pan. Cook, stirring, for 5 mins or until onion softens. Return beef to pan.
In a small jug combine tomatoes and MAGGI recipe base, add to pan with beef stock. Bring to the boil.
Reduce heat to low. Cook, covered, for 2 hours or until the beef is very tender. Serve.

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE FOR FOODBANK

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE: ONE PAN CHICKEN

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

½ cup (140g) tomato paste
MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole Recipe Base
6 chicken marylands
500g baby potatoes, halved
1 red onion, cut into wedges
400g can chopped tomatoes
80g baby spinach leaves

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C.
Combine tomato paste and MAGGI recipe base in a small bowl.
Cut 3 slits in top of each piece of chicken. Rub tomato paste mixture over chicken. Place in a large roasting pan with potato, onion, tomatoes and ½ cup (125mL) water. Spray with oil spray.
Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in spinach and serve.

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE FOR FOODBANK

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE: CHICKEN AND CHICKPEA BAKE

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 55 minutes

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp oil
1 brown onion, thinly sliced
1 red capsicum, sliced
700g passata
MAGGI Heart One Pot Casserole Recipe Base
400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
12 chicken drumsticks

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180°C/ 160°C fan forced.
Heat a large flameproof casserole pan over high heat. Add oil, onion, and capsicum; cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until the onion softens.
Add combined passata and MAGGI recipe base; chickpeas. Bring to the boil. Remove from heat.
Arrange chicken over passata mixture in pan. Bake, turning chicken occasionally, for 50 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve.

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE FOR FOODBANK

BEN’S STORY

“Food relief helped me piece my life back together again.”

When Ben woke up one morning completely paralysed in the left arm and hand, his life changed forever. Ben was a thriving musician who had recently moved to Australia from Scotland to re-launch his career, when through no fault of his own, he was unable to work. Ben’s injury meant he wouldn’t be able to play his guitar for the next three long years.

“In this time, I lost everything. When I could no longer play my guitar and do what I loved, my mental and physical health started to decline. I lost my income, my relationship spiralled downwards, and we ended up splitting up. I had nowhere to live and no money.” – Ben

“I ended up living in the bushes in Southbank for a while before I got a place in a dormitory with 80 other homeless people.” – Ben

Ben made a group of friends who introduced him to one of Foodbank Queensland’s Member Charities providing food relief in the local community. Ben soon regained movement in his arm and hand and was able to play his guitar again.

“I did the only thing that I could do, I busked. People would say, ‘How come you’re busking? You sound fantastic. What is a musician like you doing on the street?’. People were so kind. They would bring me their husband’s clothes that he no longer wore, and stuff like that.” – Ben

“Finding a local food relief charity was such a huge stress relief and also financial relief. Being able to depend on food from other sources helped me divert any funds I had towards essential items, like underwear, sock, and shoes, which otherwise I’d be spending on food. If you want to get back on your feet, you’ve got to be presentable, you’ve got to have deodorant and shoes. But if you’re spending all your money on food, then you can’t do those things.” – Ben

Being able to access nutritious food regularly helped put Ben on the road to recovery. He soon found a job and was able to do what he loved. He was earning a regular income and could once again afford food and essentials.

Ben was so grateful and inspired by the support of the local food relief charity, that he now dedicates most of his time volunteering there to help others, just like him, facing severe hardship.

“I’m doing better now, but I don’t want to forget the people that put me back on my feet. That’s why I’m here, doing anything I can to support those in need.” – Ben

Ben’s outstanding voluntary work was recently recognised in the Griffith Australia Day Awards, acknowledging his devotion to supporting the homeless and disadvantaged within the West End region.

“Homeless people, needy people – they are real people, with real needs, and they need real solutions. Foodbank and their donors are part of that solution, and I’m eternally grateful for it, because it does make a difference.” – Ben

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

HELP HUNGRY QUEENSLANDERS LIKE BEN

drive-thru food relief

On Friday, 23 July 2021, we opened our warehouse for a drive-thru service.

Please note, this service occurred in the past. We are not currently offering a drive-thru service.

Nestlé helps to make 1.2m meals with first-ever custom product for Foodbank

Nestlé has proudly partnered with Foodbank to create the first ever designed-for-Foodbank custom product, with more than 1.2 million serves being made to help support people in need.

19th May 2021

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health provides vital support to South East Queensland Indigenous population

“I felt like the worst mother on the planet”

From the outside, Renee’s family looked like your typical Australian household…

An accident would change Grant and Renee’s life forever

Another set back

Hope for the future

EVERY $1 DONATED IS 2 MEALS CREATED

Foodbank volunteers power the fight against hunger

Marlynn loves to help people

Glenn wants to help families just like his

Suzie wants to make a difference

Volunteer at Foodbank Queensland

Foodbank Queensland founder Ian Brusasco AO AM passes aged 92.

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE: SLOW COOKED BEEF CASSEROLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE FOR FOODBANK

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE: ONE PAN CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE FOR FOODBANK

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE: CHICKEN AND CHICKPEA BAKE

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

MAGGI HEARTY ONE-POT CASSEROLE FOR FOODBANK

BEN’S STORY

“Food relief helped me piece my life back together again.”

HELP HUNGRY QUEENSLANDERS LIKE BEN

“I felt like the
worst mother on the planet”

EVERY $1 DONATED
IS 2 MEALS CREATED