Foodbank friend, Michael Powell, swims the English Channel in a bid to raise $20,000 for Foodbank QLD.

32 kilometres, 7 hours, 14 degrees Celsius … it doesn’t sound that bad, does it? Only 32 kilometres, 7 hours and 14 degrees if you are lucky enough to get a beautiful sunny day, no tide and happen to be a professional long distance swimming athlete.

Meet Michael, a local Brisbane hero with a passion for swimming complemented by a passion for helping Queenslanders who are doing it tough. Michael made a personal commitment in January 2016 to swim the English Channel during the English summer of 2017. A personal journey inspired by swimming legend, Des Renford, and the loss of loved ones at a young age.

Losing loved ones early in life has created a desire to help others be their best

Michael’s eldest sister Katrina and Uncle Henry had their lives cut short through illness and war; they were both departed by eighteen years old. Michael has not previously honoured his sister with an event nor publicly remembered his Uncle but his English Channel swim is the perfect opportunity. Michael hopes that by teaming up with Foodbank Queensland, he can help build awareness for the School Breakfast Program which ensures young Queenslanders get the healthy start they need. By fulfilling their potential at school kids can go on to live long, healthy lives that unfortunately his sister and uncle missed out on. Michael says, “by reaching them at a young age I hope this means our efforts will be multiplied and continue to deliver for generations to come.”

Michael’s commitment to intense training has prepared him for the long swim ahead

Michael started training in March 2016. Michael says preparing for the swim has been difficult “not only do you have to prepare for the distance, you have to prepare for the elements.” The 32 kilometres can easily turn into a 50 kilometre plus swim if the tide and conditions are not in your favour. The temperature is uncontrollable but Michael is travelling to various locations within Australia to test his abilities in a range of conditions with open water swims. And the time? Michael has not set himself a time goal as not only are the conditions too unpredictable, swimming with an amputation is no easy venture.

An accident does not make a quitter out of Michael!

Michael lost his leg at age 4 due to a devastating farming accident. He is a true warrior living a full life and maintaining his passion for swimming and not letting his prosthetic slow him down in any aspect of his life. Michael has made a pledge to swim the English Channel, to the best of his ability, without wearing his prosthetic in a bid to raise awareness and funds for Foodbank QLD.

Do your part and help Michael make a difference

Michael has set a generous goal of fundraising $20,000! Foodbank Queensland is able to provide 100 bowls of cereal and milk for kids with every $10 donated. If we work together to reach Michael’s goal this will be equivalent to 200,000 bowls of cereal and milk!

ABC declares War on Waste.

If you’re among the few who haven’t seen it, the documentary is a confronting look at the scale of waste produced by Australian businesses and consumers every year.

According to the ABC Australia’s waste is growing at double the rate of the population, making the series a timely reminder of the need to reduce our waste. ABC’s War on Waste month in May put the spotlight on our ‘waste crisis’, urging Australians to slow down the amount of clothes, coffee cups and food we throw away each year.

And it’s led to a lively conversation about the role food relief organisations play in re-directing food from landfill. Instead of throwing away edible food, farmers, manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers donate goods to Foodbank which are passed on to charities feeding the needy. With its charity partners, Foodbank has a dual purpose to eliminate food waste and food insecurity. If you’d like to take a peak, Foodbank NSW representative featured in the series’ first episode to show you how it all works. You can catch it here on ABC’s iView.

Not mention Foodbanks all across Australia have been busy getting noticed thanks to the ‘War on Waste’. We were lucky enough here in Queensland to inspire a visit from ABC Radio Brisbane journalist, Craig Zonca. To find out what a day in the life of Foodbank really means you can listen to Craig Zonca’s radio interview here.

The attention didn’t stop there with Foodbank Australia CEO, Brianna Casey, featured on ABC News 24 to discuss the $1.2m Federal Energy Grant to go to food relief organisations around the country. You can watch the interview here, where Casey mentions the sad fact that experiencing hunger is a hidden crisis that needs to be talked about.

For more information, please head to the ABC’s War on Waste landing page here.

Foodbank’s bounty benefits those by the beach.

The Beachside Communicare Food Pantry is the charity arm of Beachside Church, Pottsville which operates under the leadership of Pastors Alan & Vanie Pillay and is coordinated weekly by Margaret Kennedy and her wonderful team of volunteers.

“Due to the increase of financial hardship in our community, we empathised and decided that we should do something on an ongoing basis to alleviate this problem.” says Alan.

Our vision is to:

  • engage actively in our community through regular food distribution
  • help alleviate poverty
  • support those experiencing social isolation.

The pantry serves mainly:

  • disadvantaged families (seniors, single parents, pensioners, aged, job seekers, disabled people)
  • people who might be in temporary crisis – out of work or ill of health
  • individuals facing social isolation who, when participating, have an opportunity to relax and interact with members of the community over a cup of tea and light refreshments and engage with a chaplain who enquires on their wellbeing, if required.

Approx 12-14 volunteers gather at 8:30 am and are assigned their duties, including providing refreshments, receiving newly delivered stock, bread, vegetables, and unpacking stock form storage cupboards.

Pantry patrons arrive as early as 8:30am and while waiting to be signed in, are offered tea, coffee and light refreshments and during this time interact with others. When the pantry is set up, the patrons are able to select their own groceries and free food items and pay for their purchases as they leave the room.

The operation of the Pantry is now into its 6 year and has enjoyed steady success, making a real difference for our organisation’s objectives, as well as for the disadvantaged people in the local community.

We have collaborated with our own members and many organisations over this period in ensuring that we can achieve our desired outcomes of providing poverty relief by way of food distribution.

On a closing note we owe our heartfelt gratitude to wonderful team at Foodbank who are genuinely interested in the address social disadvantage. The ‘family’ at Foodbank are always a pleasure to deal with, polite, courteous and helpful at all times and no doubt they contribute intensively to our and other agencies successful operations and existence.

You can make a difference this Christmas.

Christmas is a time of celebration, family, friends and gift giving. For many though, the reality will be very different this Christmas.

‘Last year my hours were cut back and now my wife is sick and without her income we struggle to pay the bills, let alone food!’ Bob, recipient.

With many Queenslanders living ‘pay cheque to pay cheque’ it doesn’t take much.  An unexpected bill, a sudden illness, a relationship breakdown, insecure housing, a change in income or employment status, a lack of support networks are just some of the causes. The reality is, food insecurity affects 15% of the population. Sadly, a third are children and worse still, a further 4,283 people are being turned away due to the lack of available food.The good news is you can change this.

Together with Foodbank you can make a difference this Christmas by giving a gift to feed hungry families like Bob’s.

  • A donation of $50 provides 300 meals.
  • A donation of $75 provides 450 meals.
  • A donation of $100 provides 600 meals.

Bob, ‘knowing people care enough to give, restores hope that things can change for me and my family.’

So dig deep and give a stranger a gift this Xmas.

2017 Christmas Can Drive results!

Support for our 2017 Christmas Can Drive’s came from all corners this Christmas for a terrific result. Notable mentions this year!

Retail First and All Purpose Transport reached their target of 40 tonne! A very big target made possible through team work and the very generous shopping public!

Youi did an amazing job of helping us collect all the different can drives and storms didn’t hold them back from helping out it was a huge help!

Seasons Aged Care were back again this year to help out and through their villages collected cans and funds to help make a difference this Christmas.

The Brisbane City Council & Brisbane Libraries Book Amnesty collected a staggering 27 tonne in the month of December! Great to see people getting back to the libraries and to all those who just dropped in, THANK YOU!

QPS and the Bearcat were there for handover of cans from the Commissioners Gift Drive with cans collected around Queensland!

QUS Pty Ltd, BHP, Flight Centre and individuals donned the hi-viz and manned the Foodbank vehicles to make sure every can was collected all around Brisbane!

Queensland Government departments this year outdid themselves with 35 collections around the state with whole buildings supporting and regional teams joining in to support their local communities.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much!  It is through your support, whether one can or one coin it all adds up to amazing results for those doing it tough.

If you would like to help support Foodbank Queensland with a can drive, please phone (07) 3395 8422 or email marketing as below. Remember giving doesn’t end at Christmas.

New Year, new fridge for Village Avenue.

On the 23rd November, 2017 the Griffith University Lions Club in conjunction with dollar for dollar funding from the Australian Lions Foundation Ltd officially completed a special project for the Village Avenue Community Church Emergency Food Relief Program,“The installation of a cold room and freezer room.”

At a luncheon held at the VACC facilities to celebrate the achievement, Lion Daynan Brazil, President of Griffith University Lions Club said, “This has been an important project for our Club and one we believe will enhance the Emergency Food Project now and in the future.”

We welcomed as special guests, District Governor Lion Ann Reed, Australian Lions Foundation Ltd Director Lion Lesley Lyons, and Lion Ian and Mandy Smith from Pinelands Lions Club.

It was delightful to have our guests share this special event and thank them for their comments of encouragement.Peter Cox of the Village Avenue Community Church, told the gathering how much they appreciate the partnership that has developed with the Lions and is sure by replacing the current situation, a number of  refrigerators and separate freezers, will provide the opportunity to make more effective use of food generously made available through Foodbank and Second Bite.

“On average we do between 60 and 70 food parcels each month and operate five days a week servicing close to 400 individuals in 2017. Like many food relief programs VACC relies on the generous giving of church members and other local churches and service clubs. Being connected with Foodbank enables us to purchase about 25% more with the available funds we have.” Mr Cox said.

Also attending were recipients of the project services. Lion Larraine Bence said “It was an opportunity to hear firsthand of the benefits people have experienced and how much they have valued support received”. It has been a wonderful outcome and will ensure the VACC Emergency Food Project serves the community well in the coming years.

Christmas lunch taken care of thanks to Aussie farmers.

With the help of St Vincent de Paul Gympie residents of Murgon, Cherbourg and Cooyar were identified as doing it especially though this Christmas. Many of which were delighted by the sight of such quality fresh produce and the obligatory Christmas Pudding.

Ian Laherty North Central Council President had this to say about the initiative and its impact in the lives of recipients. “What Aussie Farmers’ are doing is truly inspiring! The message for all is that people care what happens to others and are quite prepared to sacrifice so that others are better off. By receiving a hamper, they are also made aware that they are not alone, that people care” Mr Laherty said.

According to the Foodbank Hunger Report 2017, 188,000 Queenslanders have experienced food insecurity at least once a month, with 35% of these individuals being children.

Foodbank CEO, Michael Rose added, “Queensland’s farmers are some of the most generous donors to Foodbank, donating over 3 million kg’s of beautiful, fresh produce last year to those in need, so it is particularly pleasing that, with the help of Aussie Farmers Direct and Aussie Farmers Foundation, we were able to give something back to regional Queensland families who are doing it tough.”

Our deepest thanks to Aussie Farmers Direct and Aussie Farmers Foundation for their continued support. For more information on the Aussie Farmers Foundation visit www.aussiefarmersfoundation.org.au or if you would like to support the ongoing efforts of Foodbank Queensland please contact our friendly staff.

Million dollar pledge to Queensland School Breakfast Programs.

The Palaszczuk Government will give an extra $1 million to Foodbank Queensland to massively expand its successful School Breakfast Program.

Foodbank Queensland currently supports 230 schools. Thanks to our fantastic supporters, we are able to supply bread, milk and fresh fruit. Products such as cereal and spreads are also available when in stock.

“With our funding injection of $1 million over four years, Foodbank will be able to support an additional 62 schools to provide another 500,000 breakfasts a year to an additional 8,060 children across Queensland,” previous Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman said.

“It’s sad that in 2017, 67 per cent of teachers still report children coming to school hungry, with an average of three students in every class arriving hungry.”

“The successful School Breakfast Program invites all kids to attend, promoting social inclusion, and provides a fun, social family atmosphere. “Research has found that food relief allows children to have better focus and concentration, improves physical health, helps them to feel safe and increases attendance and performance at school,” Ms Fentiman said.

According to Michael Rose, Foodbank Queensland CEO, “within days of the election result announcement, Foodbank began working with members of the Department of Communities and others to connect nine school breakfast programs within Townsville.

Foodbank appreciates the support and extra funding to expand its School Breakfast Program and looks forward to working with the government and the department to identify the schools where support is needed.”

Foodbank lodges pre-Budget submission.

Foodbank Australia has lodged its pre-budget submission ahead of the 2018-19 Federal Budget, calling for longer-term funding commitments to assist the organisation to provide food relief to more food insecure people across Australia.

Foodbank is seeking support for the development of a long-term, bi-partisan, whole-of-government strategy on food security in Australia as a key input to Australia’s response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The strategy should outline long-term solutions capable of addressing the key contributors to food insecurity in Australia, as well as policy and funding solutions that will enhance the food relief sector’s ability to efficiently and effectively get food to the right places.

Foodbank is currently doing the ‘heavy lifting’ when it comes to providing food relief to vulnerable communities, but cross-portfolio solutions are required if we are to reduce demand for food relief.

Looking specifically at Federal Government funding, Foodbank Australia is calling for the following:

Funding for the Key Staples Program

Foodbank is seeking a three-year funding commitment of $10.5 million (in total) from 2018/19 to 2020/21 to grow the current volume of ‘key staple’ foods distributed to food insecure Australians by 14 million kilograms.  With 3.6 million Australians affected by food insecurity and our network of >2400 charities unable to meet current food relief demand, it is imperative that the current annual funding of $750 000 per annum be increased and a longer-term commitment secured.  A $3.5 million/year investment from the Federal Government would deliver a gearing of 30:1 and a massive $316m social return on investment over 3 years.

Incentivising Transportation of Donated Food Relief Products

Foodbank is seeking the support of Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office to identify the most appropriate policy and/or legislative mechanisms to incentivise increased donations of essential food and grocery products to Foodbank through enhanced tax deductions for food donations, and the introduction of tax deductions for transport services related to food relief.  Our taxation advice indicates that the delivery/transportation of donated food and grocery items is not currently considered as a ‘gift’, which means the costs of transporting donated food and grocery items remains a barrier to potential donors, with landfill often being a cheaper option.  These reforms would deliver positive outcomes from both a food insecurity and food waste perspective.

Funding for Food Relief Transport

Foodbank is seeking an annual grant from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development of $5.5 million to offset some of the costs associated with transporting >67 million meals per annum to food insecure Australians.  Transport is one of the greatest barriers to our ability to ensure that surplus produce is collected from growing regions and that food relief is delivered efficiently to the areas of most demand (noting that people in rural and regional Australia are  11% more likely to be food insecure than their metropolitan counterparts).  Even when large volumes of highly sought-after fresh produce are identified (noting that 25% of vegetables produced in Australia never leave the farm), the costs (either to the grower or Foodbank) of transporting the produce can be prohibitive, leading to poor outcomes from both a food insecurity and food waste perspective.

You can download the submission here.

 

South Burnett chappy talks school breakfasts.

The South Burnett Pantry is now pressing on in its sixth year with no letup in demand for food aid in the South Burnett. Every Friday the Pantry serves over 100 customers with generous hampers, brunch, and drinks.

They are also fortunate enough to have a great band of volunteers working hard to welcome and support the community not only on Fridays, when they’re open but also through the week behind the scenes receiving supplies from Foodbank and other outlets, stacking shelves, preparing stock and keeping everything ship shape. This year the Pantry will continue to support eleven schools across the South Burnett with their breakfast programs thanks to some extremely dedicated chaplains.

Jordon Bennett Chaplain for Taabinga State School, Cherbourg State School, Murgon State School, Goomeri State School had this to say about the benefits of the program for students coming to school without breakfast.

“Those of us who proudly wear the title of “Chappy” spend a significant amount of our time feeding students providing them with the best possible start to their day. In fact, school chaplains facilitate almost 400 breakfast programs in over 800 schools every week. This is a significant amount of food being distributed to thousands of students every week.”

“The Pantry collects breakfast supplies for 11 schools in our region every week, and I personally oversee the distribution of 60% of this allocation to small schools in remote areas such as Proston, Goomeri, and Cherbourg. In addition to the breakfast program, the South Burnett Pantry is always ready and willing to help the school communities with additional supplies and emergency hampers.”

“There have been many times where I, and fellow chaplains, have had to call on the Pantry to help support a family between pays, over long weekends, and in crisis situations. At a guess, the Pantry has provided some 50 emergency hampers to school families in the last 2 years, with even more supplies being donated to school breakfast and lunch programs to provide a larger and healthier meal to the students. Many of these families rely heavily on the breakfast program as their only option to providing for their kids, and I and my fellow chaplains proudly fill that need with the goods supplied by Foodbank through the Pantry.”

In a week, Jordan’s chaplaincy service provides food, on average, for over 500 students in 4 different schools. This would not be possible without the support of agencies like the South Burnett Pantry putting in the hard yards to collect the allocation from Foodbank Queensland warehouse in Morningside every week. Garnering support in a very low socio-economic area is difficult, and the breakfast program survives purely through the efforts of these two fantastic organizations.