Meet Helen

We never thought we’d be in this position. It was just a tragic accident that’s changed everything.

Melbourne couple Terry and Helen have always been hard workers. After raising two sons – now in their 30s – the pair have owned several businesses, acquired a strong work ethic, and have always been known for their kindness and generosity.

Several years ago, they put an offer on a home in Melbourne’s north, an older home which they would work towards renovating.

During the settlement period of their newly purchased home, Terry became ill with the flu. On the way to a doctor’s appointment, Terry felt weak and feverish and collapsed, falling headfirst onto the concrete. Luckily, Terry survived, but not without tragic repercussions.

Sadly, as a result, Terry now suffers from an acquired brain injury and requires full time care. Helen is unable to work as she cares for her husband around the clock, stating she has not had a good night’s sleep since the unfortunate accident.

Helen and Terry went from 2 full-time incomes to none, while also gaining a brand-new mortgage. The financial stress is overwhelming as their pensions barely cover the mortgage repayments.

“We never thought we’d be in this position. It was just a tragic accident that’s changed everything,” said Helen.

Helen has only been accessing food relief at Reservoir Neighbourhood House, a Foodbank Victoria charity partner, for about a year now and she still struggles with accepting help.

Helen’s story is just one of many we hear. A sudden illness or life-changing circumstance can put anybody in a position where they are unable to pay their bills and desperately require food relief.

HELP PEOPLE LIKE HELEN

1930 – 2020: FEEDING VICTORIANS IN NEED FOR 90 YEARS

Our work in Victoria dates back to 1930, with the establishment of the State Relief Committee in response to the economic distress caused by the Great Depression. Today, our work continues – supporting Victorians with food relief in times of distress caused by financial hardship and through disasters such as bushfires, floods and drought.

Over nine decades of Victoria’s history, Foodbank Victoria has been there in the background, ensuring nobody has to face a crisis alone. Whether it is everyday emergencies or times of crisis – we’ve been providing food comfort and support for 90 years. Here are just some of the stories that are part of our long-standing history assisting Victorians in their time of need.

Helen’s Story

Brian & Julie’s Story

Deb’s Story

Thanks to the Yarra Tram Community Partnerships Program, those of you travelling through the city may have spotted the Foodbank purple across Melbourne’s iconic tram network. We thank Yarra Trams for the opportunity to share the stories of those we have supported, including Helen, Deb and Brian and Julie.

HELP FEED VICTORIANS IN NEED

Children are going hungry

Hard-working mum Hayley absolutely adores her beautiful kids, Grace, Peter and Jake.

Struggling to afford the basics for her family was heartbreaking for Hayley.

She’s always worked incredibly hard to provide for them, but when she lost her job due to COVID-19, it suddenly became much harder to feed them every day.

“My greatest fear is that my kids will go hungry. Things are so expensive… it’s hard to get on top of stuff – and with no income coming in, it’s even tougher.”

The tragic reality is that Hayley is just one of many parents overwhelmed with worry right now about how to feed their children.

Even before COVID-19, three children in every classroom across NSW and ACT were going to school without breakfast. Today, the situation is much worse.

Foodbank nationally has seen a 78% surge in demand for food relief. Hunger is no longer a hidden crisis, and children are going hungry at alarming rates.

Foodbank’s School Breakfast 4 Health program now serves over 137,000 meals each week to kids who would otherwise go without. But with more children going hungry than ever before, we urgently need your help to meet the skyrocketing demand.

Everyday Aussie kids are arriving at school with an empty lunchbox, some don’t even know if there will be dinner on the table at night.

Hayley shared, “It’s so scary to think what would happen to my children if Foodbank wasn’t around… I don’t know how we’d cope.”

When a child goes to school hungry, there’s much more at stake than just empty bellies, their entire education can be put at risk.

Just imagine how hard it is for a young child to concentrate on the maths or science problems in front of them, when all they can feel is the pain deep of their rumbling tummies.

In fact, teachers estimate that the average student loses more than two hours of learning time when they arrive at school without breakfast. That lost time quickly adds up over weeks and months. You can only imagine the devastating impact on these students as they fall further and further behind their peers.

It’s heartbreaking, but sadly, the obstacles facing hungry kids don’t stop there.

Teachers also say that students who arrive without having eaten a nutritious meal are more likely to express their emotion in disruptive behaviours. Without food in their stomachs, these kids can become restless, irritable, angry and easily upset. On top of that, many hungry kids feel too ashamed to attend their School Breakfast 4 Health program.

We’re working with local schools to help ensure that every hungry child gets the food they need, but that means we need even more food than ever before. With so many kids in need across NSW and ACT right now, we urgently need your help to feed every single hungry child like Grace, Peter and Jake.

Can you give generously today to provide nutritious breakfasts for hungry children and help them start the day right and achieve their very best at school?

Your support will mean so much to parents like Hayley. Many are struggling to cope with the stress of losing their jobs, and some are being forced to decide whether or not to feed their kids when the money has run out.

You’ll be helping thousands of kids like Grace, Peter and Jake:

Improve their nutrition and eating habits
Improve their mental and physical health
Reduce the number of children who stay home from school
Help them engage with a clear mind and full stomach in class
Help them develop social and leadership skills.

Please donate today to provide the wholesome, nutritious meals that children need to do their best every day.

Thank you for helping feed Kylie’s family

“When you’re fighting between paying rent or buying food, you don’t know what to do.”

When we last wrote to you, Kylie and her young children, like thousands of Victorian families, had reached breaking point. Almost overnight, families who were already struggling now faced a frightening scenario – the prospect of not putting a meal on the table for her family.

Since the tragedy of the bushfires and COVID-19, the number of Victorian families experiencing food insecurity has doubled. More than half of these families skip meals at least once a week.

Thanks to your generous support of our recent appeal, Foodbank Victoria has stepped in to relieve their distress and fears. Without you, far too many families just like Kylie and her kids would have had to go without food.

For Kylie, not being able to feed her own children was heartbreaking. “You have to send your kids to school with food. You can’t send them with nothing.

“I was blown away by the generosity from people we have never met. We’ve received good, healthy food with everyone’s help.

“Now I don’t have to sit and cry about not having any money or food. We can now eat – and that’s the most important thing to me, for my kids.”

Who else do we help?

Vulnerable communities set for increased support as Port of Melbourne extends partnership with Foodbank Victoria

Victoria’s fight against food insecurity is set to receive a much-needed boost, following the signing of a new three-year agreement between the Port of Melbourne and Foodbank Victoria.

The partnership builds on a 2018-19 commitment through which Port of Melbourne employees donated more than 220 hours and distributed nearly 44,000 meals to vulnerable Victorian communities.

Foodbank Victoria CEO Dave McNamara welcomed the partnership as a big step towards his organisation’s ambition of ensuring all Victorians have access to healthy and nutritious food.

“With the bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic more and more Victorians have turned to us when they have nowhere else to go. In the last few months, we’ve seen demand increase by 20 per cent. And we know that the next few months present even greater challenges as spiralling unemployment and recession begin to take their toll. That’s why this agreement with the Port of Melbourne is so significant. It will help us improve food relief efforts right across the state, delivering considerable benefit for so many vulnerable Victorians – now and into the future.”

The Foodbank Victoria partnership is part of Port of Melbourne’s social impact and sustainability strategy. As well as supporting community groups, each year the Port of Melbourne’s operations provide more than $4 billion in economic benefit to the local government areas surrounding the port.

Port of Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Brendan Bourke said the Port of Melbourne is determined to make a difference for such a critical community priority.

“During the past few months, Foodbank Victoria has seen a growing number of people in need of a helping hand. Many hardworking Victorians are seeking food relief for the first time, finding themselves in situations they never anticipated.

“While our financial contribution will help Foodbank Victoria’s reach and impact, the team at Port of Melbourne is also looking forward to rolling up our sleeves to ensure much-needed nutritious food gets to areas it’s needed most,” Mr Bourke said.

Dozens of Port of Melbourne employees will volunteer their time during the next three years to pick and pack tens of thousands of kilos of food. Others will be deployed to distribution points during food drives associated with emergency response.

Mr Bourke added: “We’re attuned to the immediate need for increased support due to the COVID-19 health crisis and are ready to deploy our assistance now to help Foodbank Victoria’s pressure points. We’re also here for the long-haul, ensuring we remain a valued partner of Foodbank Victoria all the way through to the end of 2022.”

Beiersdorf announces official partnership with Foodbank Australia

Following over hundreds of thousands of product donations, Beiersdorf pledges additional support to Victoria during the current lockdown

31st August 2020

Clynton Bartholomeusz, Managing Director of Beiersdorf Australia (left), and Brianna Casey, CEO of Foodbank Australia (right), launching the partnership at Foodbank NSW & ACT

Today Beiersdorf Australia – manufacturer of NIVEA and Elastoplast products – has announced its official partnership with Foodbank Australia, the country’s largest food and grocery relief organisation.

In 2020, Beiersdorf Australia has donated hundreds of thousands of products to Foodbank Australia, locally driving its ‘Care Beyond Skin’ program. Their most recent donation, just this month, is of over 50,000 personal care items, including hand sanitisers which will be distributed to those in need in Victoria.

Clynton Bartholomeusz, Managing Director of Beiersdorf Australia said, “For nearly 140 years, we at Beiersdorf have had ‘care’ at the heart of everything we do. Our purpose, Care Beyond Skin, not only expresses our passion for skincare, but it embodies our commitment to also caring for people and communities in need. That is why we are so pleased to become an official national donor with Foodbank Australia and support the important work they do.”

This is not the first time Beiersdorf and Foodbank have joined forces. During this year’s bushfire crisis, Beiersdorf donated thousands of products including Elastoplast essentials and NIVEA sun care.

Brianna Casey, CEO of Foodbank Australia said, “We are incredibly grateful for Beiersdorf’s continual support and generous donations of skin and personal care products, and are delighted to be welcoming them as an official national donor.”

“Thank you to everyone at Beiersdorf for your ongoing commitment to Foodbank Australia which enables us to support Australians doing it tough not only now but for the long term.”

Globally, Beiersdorf has pledged 50 million Euros as an immediate international support program to help communities in their fight against COVID-19 pandemic. It will team up with international organisations as well as local authorities to bring the support to the people in need. The global immediate measures are:

Donation of 1,000,000 litres of disinfectant
Donation of at least 5,000,000 NIVEA skin and hand care products to medical staff all around the world
Direct financial support for NGOs, both international organisations as well as local partners of the Beiersdorf Group
Beiersdorf commits to double any employees’ personal donations

Unique partnership takes insecurity out of the ‘surprise’ chain

11th August 2020

Foodbank Australia’s ongoing partnership with General Mills Australia is rethinking how companies can contribute and take some of the insecurity out of the food donation ‘surprise’ supply chain.

In a model that is unique to Foodbank Australia, General Mills’ Rooty Hill plant in Western Sydney will produce on average 10,000 dedicated meals of Latina ™ Fresh ricotta and spinach agnolotti each month, for the next year, for people in need.

Foodbank Australia Chief Executive Officer, Brianna Casey, said with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 being felt right across the country, the value of this new partnership is immeasurable.

“With one in five Australians already having faced food insecurity at some point last year, widespread unemployment and an economic recession have hit hard and fast for families everywhere. People are doing it tough right now and it’s partnerships like this Collaborative Supply Program that enable us to plan ahead and make every dollar go further.”

“General Mills are taking the proactive step to guarantee access to delicious, nutritious pasta for Australians who are struggling to put food on the table right now and for the year ahead, and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said Ms Casey.

Foodbank Australia’s General Manager – National Supply Chain, Michael Davidson, added, “This model allows us to move beyond important, but unpredictable products diverted from
landfill to a constant supply of basic essentials like this premium pasta product from General Mills.”

“We’ve seen this model operate to great success with other pantry staples and are excited to see this further extension of our partnership with General Mills come to life.”

“As a world-leader in this field, and the only foodbank globally to be driving a collaborative supply program with food and grocery industry partners, this really sets the standard for other manufacturers and foodbank organisations. It will have a tremendous impact on ensuring we can provide to those in need,” said Mr Davidson.

The program is a collaboration between Foodbank Australia, General Mills and its supply chain. While General Mills donates the time and labour to make the product, suppliers have generously donated the raw ingredients and packaging to dramatically reduce the cost.

Ferraro Dairy Foods, based in Tullamarine, is supplying the ricotta for the pasta filling. Ferraro Dairy Foods General Manager Brad Ferraro said it was important to help Foodbank during this difficult time.

“At Ferraro Dairy, we are always prepared to help families and people in whatever way we can. That’s why it’s great to be involved with this initiative and support people who are hurting in multiple ways.” said Mr Ferraro.

General Mills Australia Managing Director Peter Everett has called on industry peers to engage in similar partnerships to ensure a bigger impact on the community.

“We’ve created a template which people and companies can follow using resources and networks they already have to make an even greater difference,” Mr Everett said.

“It’s taken a huge effort from our staff putting this together and while it’s tough for our suppliers to make this donation due to COVID-19, we think it’s the perfect time to make that difference and be a force for good given the impact it will achieve at this critical time.”

“The chosen product, chilled, premium Latina™ Fresh Ricotta and Spinach Agnolotti, takes all of a family’s needs into consideration, being a great source of protein and quick and easy to make for a family meal,” said Mr Everett.

In addition to product donation, General Mills, through its Foundation, provided Foodbank Australia with a charitable grant of over AU$200,000 (US$ 150,000) to help Foodbank respond to the significant increase in community need for food staples due to the pandemic.

With COVID-19 causing new demographic groups to access food relief for the first time, it’s more important than ever to support the community.

A thank you from our Food Team

It’s with the support of our food and grocery donors that we’re able to continue helping to feed Victorians in need. As we wrap up the financial year, we want to say – thank you!

Daylesford Good Grub Club

The quaint community of Daylesford has seen a huge increase in the number of people unable to afford or access food. To help make things a little easier for those going through tough times, the wonderful team at Good Grub Club have been delivering food hampers, and providing fresh cooked meals to struggling community members in the Hepburn Shire.

Meet our Charity Partners

A Message from Greg Pattinson, CEO, Foodbank SA

The last 6 months have clearly demonstrated the essential role of Foodbank SA in the community. Firstly with the bushfires, Foodbank was one of the first agencies activated by the State Government to provide support to affected communities. To this day, we still send our Mobile Food Hub to Lobethal twice per week to support the victims of the Hills fires. However since the outbreak of COVID-19, this service is now available for other families in the area who need food assistance.

Immediately following the bushfires, we saw the affects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many thousands of people lost their jobs overnight, many of whom had never been in such a position. At the same time, many traditional welfare agencies and charities closed their doors either due to a lack of volunteers or to eliminate any risk of the spread of the virus. With more people needing help but fewer outlets to get food, all of us at Foodbank set ourselves the objective that we would not close, but would continue to provide the safety net for the people of SA.

To achieve this objective, many changes were necessary to our previously normal way of doing things. I would like to thank all of our staff and volunteers who not only worked with the management team to make sure all of our sites were safe, but who also continued to provide a welcoming environment for all of the new people accessing our services.

Even with all of these challenges, we are still driving new projects. We have just launched our second Mobile Food Hub, sponsored by the RAA, and based at our Riverland branch, which will be used to fill some of the gaps for food relief in country areas of SA. Then in September we will be opening the doors of our latest Food Hub, this time in Murray Bridge. This opening will be supported by local Rotary & Lions clubs and has attracted a lot of local interest in what we believe is a region that needs this service.

With all of this happening, I have never been prouder to be associated with Foodbank!

Greg Pattinson
CEO, Foodbank SA