Thank you for giving food and hope to flood affected Queenslanders

In early March 2022, Foodbank Queensland launched a Flood Appeal to help get emergency food and drinking water to flood affected Queenslanders in desperate need. Sadly, many Foodbank Member Charities were contacting us for more food, well above our standard supply volumes, due to an increased community need, flooded food stock and damaged facilities.

That’s why your support was so important. Thanks to our generous supporters, more than 220,000 meals have been supplied to the impacted regions across our state over five months, from March to July 2022.

As Queensland’s largest and most connected hunger relief charity, Foodbank continues to have a vital role to play. We know that flood recovery will take many months, and sadly for some families, home repairs will span years. We will continue working hard with our frontline Member Charities to support these communities with additional food supplies to meet demand, thanks to the support of our donors and the tireless work of many volunteers.

In these times of crisis, we are so grateful to have your support!

“The flood left our community like a warzone. It was harrowing”

Pastor Phil will never forget the devastation that severe flooding brought to his hometown of Goodna, in Ipswich.

Houses under water. Cars overturned. Power poles knocked over and roads completely submerged. The destruction caused by the recent floods will haunt Goodna residents, including Phil Kennedy, Senior Pastor of Shiloh Church, for decades.

Shiloh Christian Care, the charity arm of Shiloh Church, is one of Foodbank’s Member Charities providing vital, ongoing support to local families impacted by the floods.

Floods had come to Goodna before. “Anytime you get heavy rain people get nervous,” says Pastor Phil. But in late February 2022, as the rain settled in and got heavier, the collective mood shifted to panic. Streets that usually weren’t affected by intense rain were flooding. “That’s when the evacuation centres began opening and it spiralled from there,” he recalls.

As homes were destroyed and families displaced, requests for food relief skyrocketed. “It was a crisis and people didn’t have a Plan B in place from a food perspective,” explains Pastor Phil. Either their food had been destroyed in the floods, or they’d been forced to evacuate so quickly they couldn’t bring food.

“We had people needing food relief who were already living below the poverty line when their houses went under. But there were also people who normally wouldn’t need our services, but due to road closures they couldn’t leave their street and couldn’t get to food and water.” – Pastor Phil

Fortunately, because Shiloh Christian Care was on high ground, it didn’t suffer flood damage. The food relief service could still operate. Pastor Phil had to rapidly recruit an army of extra volunteers to help pack enough emergency food hampers for all those going hungry. But unfortunately, there wasn’t enough food to help the number of people in crisis.

Thanks to generous people like you, who kindly donated to Foodbank Queensland’s Flood Appeal, Shiloh Christian Care received additional emergency food supplies to help families in need, and it made an extraordinary difference.

In a disaster like this, when people are left homeless and don’t have access to refrigeration or heat to cook, the right type of food is critical. Pastor Phil explains that many people had only camp stoves to cook on, so they needed food requiring minimal preparation. Things like fruit and vegetables and two-minute noodles were valued. And food that could be eaten on the go for energy in the clean-up, like muesli bars, was very appreciated too.

It was vital that Shiloh Christian Care got emergency hampers to those people most in need, and social media proved critical for success. “People would tag us in Facebook posts and say, ‘Hey, people on this street or that street are struggling’,” says Pastor Phil.

The food you helped fund reached people of all ages. A retirement village was completely cut off, and had no electricity, so a lot of their food had spoiled. “We got permission to go through the blockade and deliver food to them,” says Pastor Phil. But because vehicles weren’t able to access many local streets, much of the food delivery was on foot. “We’d just knock on doors and say to people, ‘Hey, how you doing? Are you okay? Do you need anything? Do you need food?’ And a lot of these people really needed food,” he said.

Pastor Phil wants you to know that the food you helped his team deliver not only filled hungry bellies – but it did so much more. “For families who had young children, you gave them an emergency hamper, but also dignity, as they could now provide a meal for their children,” he says. “You gave people hope too. After people had endured days of bad news, getting an emergency food hamper told them somebody out there loves them and cares about them. When you feel like you’re so alone, surrounded by flood waters and rain and all that scary stuff, it’s such a powerful thing.”

“I met so many people who had been holding it together and been strong for everybody else around them. And when we gave them an emergency food hamper, they would just break down and cry. All the emotion they had been holding just spilled out in that moment.” – Pastor Phil

Your generosity helps Foodbank provide emergency food and groceries to frontline charities across the state, like Shiloh Christian Care, to help local families get back on their feet.

Every $1 you donate provides two nutritious meals to someone facing hunger. Thank you for making a difference.

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. 

All Stacey wants is to give her son a better life, even if it means going without meals herself.

Stacey didn’t think she’d ever have to ask for help – let alone food. Stacey’s proud and hardworking. She pays her own way and is doing her best to give her son a happy, healthy childhood. And she’s doing it alone – without any financial support.

When Stacey’s son Blake was just three years old, her relationship with his father ended badly. She had to raise Blake completely on her own, without any financial support from his father. Stacey and Blake moved to a rural Queensland town to be closer to her mum. In such a small place, Stacey was thrilled to find an admin job at a local supermarket with hours to fit Blake’s schooling. It was a second chance for this hardworking mum, who had big dreams of a secure, happy future for Blake. But few of Stacey’s colleagues knew her secret: she would often go without meals to make ends meet.

“My son knows we’re poor. I think he gets sick of me saying it all the time. I feel like I’ve failed because these are basic needs that I should be able to cover. It’s not something I tell people – I just internalise it and keep on going,” says Stacey.

Stacey is grateful to have a job, when so many others in Queensland’s regional towns are without one. But like many low-earning single parents, she barely scrapes by. After paying her rent, bills and for Blake’s school expenses, there is little money left for food. And what she has goes to Blake, ensuring he has proper school lunches and enough for dinner.

“If I had a bill coming up, I’d usually just have a coffee for breakfast, and go without dinner for a few nights. It just had to be done. Blake needs to do well, so everything goes to him so that he can flourish. As depressing as it sounds, I just want to survive,” says Stacey.

When COVID-19 hit, things went from bad to worse. During the pandemic lockdown, Blake had to be home-schooled, and Stacey used up most of her holiday and sick leave to care for him. Then when the next school holidays arrived, she had to take unpaid leave to be with Blake, putting huge pressure on her budget.

“I just wouldn’t eat. I’d distract myself from the hunger by watching TV, playing with Blake or cleaning obsessively,” she says.

At this lonely, hungry time, something wonderful happened one day when Stacey took Blake to a family fun day. A volunteer from one of Foodbank’s Member Charities was reaching out to local families in crisis. Stacey learnt she was able to access regular Foodbank hampers, to help ease some of the pressure – a gift that she’s grateful for to this day.

“Going hungry feels hopeless. It’s terrifying sometimes. It was just such a relief to know I could receive a Foodbank hamper each month – it makes such a difference,” says Stacey.

Today, Stacey feels incredibly grateful for the food hamper she now receives each month – it’s much easier to sleep at night, knowing she can eat tomorrow.

“Foodbank hampers have a trickle-down effect. Blake is more focused at school, and everything at my job works out a little better, because I’m not stressed all the time. With the money I can now save, I can afford swimming lessons for Blake, just like his friends,” says Stacey.

Many single parents like Stacey know what it’s like to go hungry to keep their children fed. Your generosity will give food and hope to hungry families throughout Queensland.

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

Stacey is a real Queenslander in need. You can help.

Harvest Angels helps Queenslanders in need with vital food relief 

Harvest Angels is one of Foodbank Queensland’s incredible Member Charities providing vital support to many struggling families in the Somerset Region and beyond.

Located in Lowood, a rural Queensland town and home to approximately 4,100 people, Harvest Angels offers free and discounted food, including low-cost food hampers, to anyone needing a helping hand.

All hampers are prepared by volunteers and include a generous box of fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, dry goods, pantry items, and a bag of cold and frozen items, with delivery available to anyone in need. Harvest Angels also runs an Op Shop, selling clothes, shoes, toys, and books, where families can . The charity also provides furniture, appliances, kitchenware, and linen. Many of these items are provided free to locals in desperate need.

The Somerset Region was one of many that were hit hard by the floods. Sadly, Harvest Angels has been inundated with requests for support, seeing people coming from as far as Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Esk, Gatton, Laidley and Ipswich for much needed food relief following the floods.

Lisa Smith, the President and Founder of Harvest Angels, said the charity would be supporting flood-affected families for many months through their long journey to recovery.

“With the support of Foodbank, we have been able to provide a huge amount of food to people – so much more than we normally could. I estimate we are feeding approximately 400 to 500 extra people per week since the floods,” she said.

Hundreds of local families currently seeking support from Harvest Angels have never needed food relief before. Unfortunately, the impacts of the floods and the increase in cost of living is making it difficult for struggling families to make ends meet.

One community, in the Somerset Region, facing extremely difficult times is a disadvantaged community in the rural town of Atkinsons Dam. Foodbank Queensland and Harvest Angels, together with Foodbank Member Charities Ipswich Foodbarn, Lockyer Food Pantry and FareShare, have been collaborating on a project to get emergency food and ready-made meals to the families in Atkinsons Dam who were impacted by the floods. In one month, we have supplied six full pallets of FareShare meals and 60 pallets of essential groceries to provide much-needed support.

Thanks to their team of volunteers, Harvest Angels has helped distribute 40 pallets of essential food to the local families in Atkinsons Dam. Lisa said many of the families were impacted by the floods, displaced from their homes, and were incredibly grateful for the support.

“We took so much food and it all went. We also managed to get some pet food out there which was urgently needed,” she said.

Harvest Angels was founded in 2011 by Lisa Smith after facing hardships of her own and learning that there was no local support network. In 2011, while in a domestic violence relationship and struggling with the challenges and expenses that came with her disability, Lisa then lost everything when her home was destroyed in the floods. For the first time, she was forced to reach out for help. Unable to find any local relief services and knowing many others in need of food support, Lisa founded Harvest Angels, using money from her Centrelink payment, she bought a second-hand fridge, freezer and food stock. With the help of generous volunteers, Lisa and the Harvest Angels team are now helping hundreds of families facing hardship every week.

Foodbank is proud to have been working with Harvest Angels since 2014, to ensure Queenslanders in need have access to essential food when they need it most.

Lisa said 95% of the food Harvest Angels provides is from Foodbank Queensland, and in between their weekly visits to Foodbank, they collect fresh bread from the local Coles to top up.

“Foodbank is our backbone, without the help and support we have been receiving, we would not be able to feed any of these people,” she 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. 

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. 

When everything that mattered got ripped away, Foodbank supporters gave Melissa hope.

After enduring years of domestic violence, while fighting to keep her family together, one particular incident saw Melissa left with a devastating brain injury. At just 36 years old, and with 5 children to protect, Melissa suffered the loss of her speech, her ability to walk and even take care of herself. Worst of all, she felt powerless to protect her children and because of her injury, they couldn’t stay with her.

Melissa’s ex-partner gained custody of their five-year-old twin boys and three teenage girls. Although Melissa was no longer able to work or drive, she still had to scrape together money to pay the family’s bills. She was desperate to regain custody of her children, who she feared were at risk.

Melissa’s ex was soon imprisoned, and she was having intense therapy to learn to speak again. By then, she was living in public housing, on a disability pension. As her brain injury caused many limitations, she had an NDIS support worker and her children were living with relatives. She saw them for two-hour visits each Friday – the most precious time of the week.

As Melissa was regaining her speech, she hoped to get a job. She wanted to get her children back and create a stable life. But constant headaches, brain fuzz, anxiety and communication struggles made it impossible. The cost of medications was huge, and every other cent went to food for her children. After years of unimaginable trauma, Melissa was now going hungry.

“Sometimes I wouldn’t eat for days, as I wanted to save what little bit of money I had left to provide for my kids during their visits. I was often starving, but my babies would always be happy, so I decided it was worth it.” – Melissa

Melissa was living on noodles, Weet-Bix, and bananas – all cheap and filling. Her stomach began to shrink so much she’d feel sick if she ate. In those tough years, Melissa would also try and make food last by hiding it where it was hard to access. She’d go to bed early, to avoid the burning hunger, or drink warm water to fill up.

Not having enough to eat made Melissa feel worthless. “I’d wake in the middle of the night, starving. I was so hungry all the time and I felt scummy. When I’d walk past a café and see people who could afford to eat there, I’d think to myself ‘they have it all’.” – Melissa

Last year, things felt grim. The hardship was the “worst of the worst”, Melissa recalls. But thanks to Foodbank supporters like you, the struggling mum received a knock on the door that changed everything. A food hamper was placed in her arms.

“It was overwhelming. I gave the man who delivered the hamper a card, to say thank you. I didn’t feel like I deserved this. In the hamper was everything to stock my pantry full. Things like flour, sugar, cereal, spaghetti, and tinned goods. The hamper was so well thought out. Thinking about it still makes me smile.” – Melissa

Melissa now receives food support more regularly. The support and nourishment Melissa receives thanks to generous people like you is helping her move on with her recovery, reclaim her voice and build a safe life. She still has a long healing journey ahead but was overjoyed recently to regain custody of two of her children, her twin boys. Melissa has also been busy handing out her resume in town. She is proud of how far she has come and can’t wait to get work. “I know what I used to be capable of. I’ve been told I can’t do it. But I’ve done it.” – Melissa

“After what I went through with my violent ex, I felt overwhelmed and distraught for a long time, thinking everyone is bad. But getting help to feed myself has made me realise good people are out there. Some of the nicest ones are strangers who support the work of Foodbank. It feels so good to be able to eat. Thank you!” – Melissa

Your generosity will help families like Melissa’s receive the essential groceries they need to get back on their feet.

Every $1 you donate will provide two nutritious meals to someone facing hunger, like Melissa. Thank you for making a difference.

Foodbank Queensland rescues 22 million meals in 2021 

As demand for food relief rises, so too does the challenge of rescuing and sourcing enough food to ensure a nutritious meal is within reach for all Queenslanders in need. 

We believe everyone deserve access to good quality food, all year round. However, whilst families are going hungry, sadly, millions of kilograms of food are wasted every year due to oversupply, labour shortages, and transport challenges. 

That’s why we work closely with hundreds of farmers, retailers and manufacturers, from large corporations to local business, to help reduce food waste and get essential food and groceries to Queenslanders who need it most. 

In 2021, our incredible Food Donors provided enough food and groceries to fill more than 2.4 million shopping bags. Enough to create 22 million meals for people doing it tough! 

Taylor Family Produce is one of our very generous Queensland growers donating fresh produce to ensure healthy and nutritious food gets to communities that need it most. Located in the Granite Belt region of Amiens, they donate a variety of leafy vegetables, including lettuce and silverbeet. 

Ray Taylor, Managing Director of Taylor Family Produce, said “When product is rejected or low value in the markets, we would prefer the product to go where it can help those in need rather than being wasted.” 

Bob McMillan, Foodbank Queensland Food Supply Manager, said Foodbank was proud to work with so many generous Food Donors to help feed hungry families, reduce waste and protect our environment.   

“Our Food Donors help to ensure that we can get a consistent supply of fresh food and essential groceries to Queensland families in need, whilst reducing food waste.  

“Thanks to our farming communities, more than 35% of all groceries rescued by Foodbank Queensland each year are fresh fruit and vegetables from more than seven farming regions in Queensland,” he said. 

To all of our wonderful Food Donors, thank you for your continued support and for helping us feed the thousands of families who rely on us every week.  

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

To see Foodbank Queensland’s 2021 Food Partners, click here.  

Nexus Care provides hope to those experiencing hunger in Brisbane

Nexus Care is one of Foodbank Queensland’s 300 Member Charities providing vital support to those most in need in the north Brisbane community. 

The team at Nexus Care support Queenslanders experiencing hunger through their Fresh Start Food Program and School Breakfast Program. Developed by a nutritionist, the Fresh Start Food Program offers healthy, substantial food parcels to anyone experiencing hardship. The parcels contain quality, nutritious non-perishable items, a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, bread, and dairy products and are designed to create several meals to support a household.  

In 2021 Nexus Care provided over 3,185 food parcels, which is equivalent to 127,400 meals in the year through their Fresh Start Food Program. 

Suki O’Dea, Nexus Care Community Programs Coordinator, said they were passionate about giving dignity, hope and a fresh start to each person that came through their doors.  

“The heart of Nexus Care is to alleviate poverty in our community. 

“Foodbank is one of our key partnerships – We include four kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables in each food parcel and would be unable to reach that target without our twice-weekly visits to Foodbank for quality fresh produce,” she said. 

With the support of Foodbank Queensland, Nexus Care also runs a School Breakfast Program in five local schools, providing a nutritious breakfast to approximately 500 children a week. 

Suki said their School Breakfast Program offered students a selection of milk, fruit, yoghurt and hot items such as toasties and pancakes.  

“We would be unable to run our Brekky Clubs without the food provided by Foodbank,” Suki said. 

“Each Monday we collect 65kg of bananas for this program and without fail, every week I have the admin staff from one primary school tell me that their students say the Foodbank bananas are the best they have ever tasted. And they are very adamant about that – nothing tastes better than a Foodbank banana!  

“At this school, the bananas are delivered early on a Tuesday morning and available from the office all week, often providing not only a breakfast, but also a lunch and sometimes afternoon tea as well,” she said. 

As we see COVID-19 case numbers increase once again in the community, many of our frontline Member Charities are struggling to meet the rising need for food relief in Queensland. Sadly, the impacts of the pandemic are making it harder for many families to put food on the table, with many Queenslanders reaching out for help for the very first time.  

Suki said Christmas was a particularly busy time for Nexus Care, providing food hampers to 420 Brisbane families in immense hardship as well as supporting families and partner organisations with 730 Christmas Treat hampers. 

“What worked was the diversity of fresh produce from Foodbank that we could not have afforded to buy from our local shop. The quality and quantity of fruit and vegetables we collected from Foodbank was considerable and made a huge difference to our Christmas food parcels,” she said. 

One of Nexus Care’s guests left this note after receiving a Christmas food hamper: 

“I wanted to write to you to say a big thank you for the food parcel, the wonderful present for my son and helping out with my rent. I was so sick with worry and anxiety due to the horrible situation I am in and to know that my 9-year-old will now have a really beautiful Christmas is amazing. The work you all do is wonderful and while I never thought I would have to use your services, I am forever grateful you are there to provide for all those in need. Thank you.” – Anonymous 

At Nexus Care, COVID-19 has seen the introduction of several new programs for people from non-English speaking and other backgrounds.  

Suki said they run free classes designed to strengthen English language skills needed for finding and securing a job.  “We also run a free personalised job-assistance program to assist people find meaningful employment. What better way to alleviate hunger than by securing worthwhile employment,” she said. 

In partnership with Fareshare, Foodbank Queensland also supports Nexus Care by providing ready-to-eat meals. 

Suki said knowing there’s at least one nutritious meal a day is one less problem to solve for many people under significant stress. 

“Fareshare meals have allowed us to customise our food relief provision to better meet the needs of our guests. Not everyone has access to suitable cooking facilities or the ability to be able to cook, so Fareshare is a wonderful inclusion to our program,” she said. 

“George is a solo parent of three young children. He has a brain injury as well as managing mental health issues and because of this, needs meals that require minimal preparation and shortened cooking times. The first time we offered him Fareshare meals, the relief on his face was so obvious and he was ever so grateful. We had initially included a leg of pork in his food parcel, thinking that this would be a great treat for the family. He said no and explained that it would be too overwhelming for him and he just couldn’t manage it. The Fareshare meals allow him to feed the family well without the angst involved with cooking a more substantial meal.” 

“We are so grateful for the amazing work of Foodbank, and it is a privilege to partner together. Thanks for being our pantry!” Suki said.  

Foodbank Queensland is delighted to have been working with Nexus Care for more than 10 years to help give food and hope to families in Brisbane facing tough times.  

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.