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.

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.

“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.

Bundaberg farmers help to provide 2.8 million meals to Queenslanders in need

Foodbank Queensland recently had the pleasure of visiting our wonderful food donors in Bundaberg.

In the Bundaberg region, Foodbank Queensland has 16 generous food donors who donate a large variety of fruit and vegetables, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum, corn, beans, chilli and citrus fruits to help Queenslanders experiencing hunger.

In the last year, the Bundaberg community donated enough food to provide more than 2.8 million nutritious meals to Queenslanders going hungry. With many farmers across Queensland having been impacted by the events of last year, including drought, bushfires and COVID-19, this is an incredibly generous donation that has gone a long way to helping Queenslanders in crisis.

During our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting Robert Doyle and Patricia Fordin from Australia’s largest producer of sweet potatoes, Sweet Potatoes Australia.

The team at Sweet Potatoes Australia have been donating to Foodbank Queensland since 2016, and said by donating produce to Foodbank Queensland, they strive to be leaders in the farming industry, helping to protect the environment, improving farm presentation and giving back to the community.

“Thanks to Foodbank Queensland, we are able to redistribute food that may have otherwise gone to waste to help people in need,” said Robert Doyle, Sales Manager at Sweet Potatoes Australia.

On our trip to Bundaberg, we also met AustChilli, Abbotsleigh Farms, Pritchard Farms, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers.

Our wonderful food donors help us ensure that our shelves are never empty, and our Member Charities 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.

“When my baby and I had nothing, a Foodbank hamper was the ultimate relief.”

It should have been the happiest of times, but instead Nicole found herself couch surfing with her three-month-old daughter and relying on extended family for enough to eat.

When Nicole’s baby Bella, was just three months old, the terrified first-time mum, 24, had to quickly escape her home on Brisbane’s outskirts. The Wakka Wakka and Kamilaroi woman had been living with her mum and partner, when he became abusive. Nicole and baby Bella were given crisis accommodation for two nights, but then found themselves sleeping on the sofas of cousins and aunties. It was heartbreaking and terrifying to be homeless, made worse because Nicole could not afford food.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more depressed and anxious than I was then. I had no money, and I was eating my relatives’ food, so I felt really bad about that. I wasn’t able to contribute much financially. Whatever money I had went towards making sure Bella had all her necessities.” – Nicole

Respite came when Nicole found permanent accommodation, a two-bedroom unit in Ipswich where she could create a safe, secure life for Bella. But it was short lived, as she now had to start from scratch and scrape together money for furniture and all life’s essentials. In desperation, she rang the support worker who ran her mums and bubs group.

“I was on the phone crying to her saying ‘I’ve just moved into this place and I’ve got no food – I’ve got nothing.’” – Nicole

Thanks to supporters like you, Nicole didn’t have to go hungry. “My support worker said: ‘We’ve just been to Foodbank, and we’ve got all the food here. I’m going to give you a couple of bags’. I was able to fill my pantry that day – it was amazing really.” – Nicole

As Nicole began to rebuild her life, there were other times a Foodbank hamper meant she didn’t have to miss meals because of a big electricity bill or car registration. It brought such comfort to be given staples like rice, tinned food, soups, sausages and mince, and even baby formula for Bella.

“Ever since I became a mum, it isn’t about me anymore – I have to put Bella’s needs first and make sure she has what she needs. I don’t ever want my daughter to struggle with food the way I’ve struggled.”

Bella is now 18 months old, and Nicole’s life is much happier. She loves playing with her little girl and plans to return to university to finish her midwifery studies soon. With her friends from her mums and bubs group, she has learnt to prepare healthy meals for Bella. She no longer struggles to provide for her little girl.

“I’m so grateful that I don’t have to wonder what Bella and I are going to eat tonight or how we are going to cope next week without food. I’m just so happy Foodbank exists. Thank you to Foodbank for giving me the opportunity to put a meal on the table each night.” – Nicole

Estimates suggest that between 22% and 32% of Indigenous people are food insecure, with those people living in remote areas most likely to go hungry. Foodbank delivers hampers to remote communities and has strong partnerships with charities dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – and this is only possible thanks to you.

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