Being out of work has put Tony and his family in a desperate situation

“I never thought in a million years that I would be in the position I am now. We try and do everything we possibly can, but some days we literally run out of money.” – Tony

Tony was an active, hard-working family man until a beach accident left him unable to work for six months. He recovered well and was about to go back to his job when an out-of-control motorist ran into his car. With another set of debilitating injuries, Tony found himself in an even worse situation than before.

At the time, Tony was working for a catering company that serviced Brisbane airport. So, when the pandemic hit and his worker’s compensation ran out, there was no way for his employers to keep him on.

“I’ve pawned all my tools and used our savings to try and get by, but for a couple of weeks we were pretty much just living on bread and water – I didn’t know what to do or where to turn.” – Tony

Desperate to put food on his family’s table, Tony came across one of Foodbank Queensland’s local Member Charities. Because he can no longer drive, the charity delivers hampers of nutritious food to his home.

“It’s the highlight of our week knowing there’ll be fresh fruit and veg, bread, and dried foods like pasta and rice. Without this help we would not have made it this far. I take my hat off to Foodbank and the people who donate – it makes all the difference to us as a family.” – Tony

With so many livelihoods lost to COVID-19, too many families like Tony’s all over Queensland are doing it tough right now. Sadly, 1 in 3 Queenslanders facing a hunger crisis had never gone hungry before the pandemic.

With your support, we can make sure our local member charities have enough food to share with families in need, helping them to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

Your generosity will make sure that families like Tony’s do not go hungry. Thank you for making a difference.

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

Foodbank’s School Breakfast Program vital for hungry children

Did you know, on average, three children in every Queensland classroom arrive at school without breakfast? When a child goes to school hungry and without proper nutrition, there’s much more at stake than just empty tummies, their entire education can be put at risk.

Foodbank Queensland is focused on supporting the thousands of children returning to school from low-income, vulnerable families. Our mission is to make sure that all Queensland children, regardless of their circumstances, have an equal start in life.

A nutritious breakfast is proven to improve attention, memory, behaviour, and attendance, which all leads to happier and healthier children. Foodbank Queensland’s School Breakfast Program provides fresh, healthy breakfasts for thousands of children every week who would have otherwise gone without.

James’s Story

Unfortunately, not all children are able to start the day with breakfast at home. James is one of these children, in desperate need of support.

Like many kids across Queensland, James often goes to school hungry. After a difficult year, James’s parents are struggling to put food on the table. James tries his best, but he finds it difficult to concentrate in class when all he can feel is his tummy rumbling.

Foodbank Queensland’s School Breakfast Program, running in over 300 Queensland schools, is vital for so many kids like James.

Eating breakfast helps kids like James thrive.

If you would like more information about Foodbank’s School Breakfast Program, please click here.

With her partner in hospital on life support, Rachel struggles to feed her children 

When Rachel and her partner moved to Queensland from New Zealand last year, their lives were full of possibility. With two young children, Sophie and Molly, and the promise of a good job, they were excited about the future.  

Then, the company her husband worked for went out of business. He soon found work driving trucks, and they moved into their own place, when that company shut down as well. 

“A week before Christmas, my partner lost his job. I managed to find somewhere that would send us a food hamper. When it comes to food for my kids, I’ll do anything for them.” – Rachel 

All over Queensland, people like Rachel are experiencing desperate hardship after a sudden change in their circumstances. It’s a heartbreaking situation – and one far too many families are facing right now, with so many livelihoods lost to COVID-19. 

Just as the young family were getting back on their feet, Rachel’s partner suffered a stroke, only two months after starting a new job. With their father’s life hanging in the balance, Rachel’s two young children need your support more than ever. 

“He had a stroke while driving and has been in hospital since June. He’s got some movement, but he can’t hear you. He’s on life support. I try to do odd jobs to make a bit of money so I can catch the bus to visit him, otherwise I walk. I’ve been trying to keep positive.” – Rachel 

Food hampers are a lifeline for families like Rachel’s. 

“The food hampers have helped me out so much. We were even invited to a Christmas party last year, which was beautiful.” – Rachel

With your generosity, Foodbank Queensland can help make sure families like Rachel’s do not go hungry at Christmas.  

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to someone facing hunger this Christmas.

Sudden unemployment left Camille seeking food relief for the first time.

“During COVID-19, the restaurants and cafés closed, so, unfortunately, I lost my four jobs.” – Camille

Camille never imagined that, when she came to Australia to study, a global pandemic would leave her jobless and unable to afford life’s necessities, miles away from home.

Before COVID-19, Camille was busy working four casual jobs and studying at a local Brisbane university. However, COVID-19 lockdowns forced the restaurants and cafes where she was working to close down. Although she tried to apply for many other jobs, nowhere was hiring.

As an international student from France, Camille was unable to access any Government assistance. Luckily, some of her friends told her about one of Foodbank Queensland’s Member Charities where she could receive much needed support.

Being able to access food relief meant Camille could focus on trying to pay her rent.

“During COVID-19 I was eating so much less. As a student here, I had no money.” – Camille

When it comes to COVID-19 causing hunger in the community, young adults have been hit the hardest, with significant numbers of casual employees and international students like Camille reaching out for help for the very first time.

Sadly, 65% of hungry Queenslanders aged 18-25 are going without food at least once a week – significantly more than any other age group.

Camille was so inspired by the food relief charity providing essential groceries to people in need, that she began volunteering there once a week.

“Food relief really makes a big difference for people who need it.” – Camille

Your generosity will help people like Camille 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 Camille. 

Far North Queensland community provides vital support to Queenslanders in need.

Did you know Foodbank Queensland receives generous donations of food and groceries from farmers, manufacturers and retailers all around Queensland? In fact, some of our largest food donations come from Far North Queensland.

Karden, a banana grower in Innisfail, is one of Foodbank Queensland’s largest banana donors in the state. Owner, Shane Cini, said it is very rewarding knowing that their donations are helping Queenslanders suffering from hunger.

“We donate to Foodbank Queensland because it is a great opportunity to be to be part of an organisation that is supporting those in need. It also helps us reduce waste on the farm,”
Shane said.

Australian Banana Company is another reliable donor of bananas in the area, helping us provide fresh fruit and vegetables to Queenslanders experiencing a hunger crisis.

Sadly, many of our food donors have been affected by the events of  this year, including drought, bushfires and COVID-19. However, they have continued their commitment to Foodbank Queensland in ways that inspire us.

This year, when demand for relief was higher than ever before, Koorelah Farms very generously increased their donation and supplied more than 300,000 kilograms of tomatoes. That’s 60,000 shopping bags full of tomatoes to help even more Queenslanders facing severe hardship due to COVID-19.

Other generous food donors in Far North Queensland include Dobe Farming, Double D Produce, CHEP Australia, The Outback Pie Co., Phantom Produce and Lowe and Sons.

Not only does the Far North Queensland community donate essential food and groceries, but local transport providers, including Lindsay Transport and Bootooloo Transport, donate their time and resources to support the transport needs of many Foodbank Queensland food donors.

We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our incredible food donors and generous members of the community.

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

COVID-19 brings desperate hardship to Angelina’s family

Before the pandemic hit, life was already tough for loving parents Angelina and Jakob. Jakob works long hours at a dairy factory to provide for their family – but despite his long, exhausting shifts, his income was never quite enough.

“My husband works very hard to provide for us all, but due to COVID-19, his hours have been reduced. It’s a very tough time for us,” Angelina said.

Now, with Jakob’s hours slashed, there simply isn’t enough money for food. All too often Angelina and Jakob go without, skipping meals so their children can eat.

It’s a heartbreaking situation – and one far too many families are facing right now, with so many livelihoods lost to COVID-19. Latest Foodbank figures show 28% of Queenslanders in crisis are going a whole day a week without eating.

These times are especially hard for people like Angelina and Jakob, who have no family network to turn to.

“We don’t have any family here in Australia. We live in a three-bedroom house and often my husband sleeps in the dining room as we don’t have enough space for all our children. Sometimes I don’t have much hope for a better life when a bill comes and we don’t have money to pay on time. I try my best but it’s really hard to have hope.”

“I always pay bills before buying food, as I need to keep a roof over my children’s heads. It’s better to be hungry than not pay our rent.” Angelina said.

For families like Angelina’s, gifts of nutritious food and groceries are a lifeline in times of desperate hardship. That’s why your support is so important.

Your generosity has made sure that people like Angelina and her family were able to receive food and support during a time of crisis. Thank you for making a difference.

Community Friends provides food relief to more people than ever before

Community Friends is a local Brisbane charity providing free, life-changing food relief and support to the homeless, disadvantaged and people in need.

Founded in 2011, Community Friends provides essential food and groceries every Wednesday to more than 150 people and their families living in West End and greater Brisbane.

Sadly, COVID-19 is severely impacting Queensland’s hunger crisis, with Community Friends seeing many people, including casual workers and international students, being forced to reach out for help for the very first time.

To tackle the increasing demand in these two new groups, the charity has started an additional food run on Thursdays for TAFE Queensland to provide them with as much food as possible for their local and international students facing hunger.

Mark McDonnell, Community Friends Founder and Director, said the charity is experiencing very challenging times with more people seeking food relief than ever before.

“COVID-19 has resulted in a lot more work, which is why we now start setting up and preparing the food much earlier than we used to. It also costs us more money and requires more volunteers, as we now prepack all food into reusable bags, so people seeking food relief don’t touch the food directly.”

“Prior to the pandemic, people could pick which food they wanted. Now, they get two prepacked bags of groceries only. They don’t get the opportunity to go through the bags or say what they want or don’t want. If there is food left over, they can go through a second time,” he said.

The charity also provides milk, bread, hot meals in takeaway containers, noodles, and small goods such as drinks and muesli bars in addition to the two prepacked bags, which people can choose to take.

Community Friends aims to give everyone enough food to feed themselves and their families for three to four days. However, one of Community Friends’ volunteers said, since COVID-19, they have been struggling to provide enough food for everyone who needs it.

“The saddest part was on one of the days we still had about 30 people cueing up and we didn’t have enough bags for them,” she said.

With more and more people seeking food relief, the charity has been forced to move to a bigger location, Punyapa Park in West End, as there wasn’t enough space for them to enforce social distancing.

Foodbank Queensland provides essential food directly to charities, including Community Friends, who support people seeking food relief. We currently work with over 250 charities across the state. 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. 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.

North Queensland flood recovery support

Long after the flood waters have gone, families and individuals across North Queensland are slowly getting back on their feet. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our frontline charity partners in the region, food was one less thing to worry about for those affected by the floods.

In just one month, we were able to assist nearly 8,000 people with food relief. Thanks to your generous support and our wonderful partners, we were able to provide more than 900 family hampers, FareShare frozen meals, a whopping 50 tonnes of cleaning products supplied by Colgate and Palmolive, along with vital household goods. All of which was transported, for free, by Linfox and AHG.

On behalf of Foodbank and our frontline charity partners, thank you for your ongoing generous donations and support. It really does make a difference.