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The moment we stopped traffic…
Kindness. Relief. Connection. It’s what brought Kororoit Creek Road to a standstill on Sunday.
Hundreds of cars loaded with families, neighbours and friends arrived at Foodbank Victoria’s Emergency Hamper Drive Thru. From our Altona warehouse, we filled their boots with pantry essentials and fresh fruit and veggies, as well as yoghurt, whole pumpkins, giant watermelons and chocolate.
Many of the 846 vehicles had kids in the back. In car seats and boosters. Some on their way home from weekend sports. Parents making sure their children would have dinner on the table that night. And lunchboxes for the week ahead.
People drove from as far away as Geelong, Rye, Broadford and Langwarrin, hopeful they’d be able to fill their pantries with nourishing food.
Some told us they were living out of their cars. Others had borrowed a car for the day. Many packed in together, multiple families in the one ride.
A dozen or so arrived on bicycles. The cost of running a car now out of reach for many.
We heard from a single dad who survives on water every few days so that his young son can eat. A grown-up daughter who moved down from Queensland to care for her sick mum. A man in his fifties who isn’t getting enough casual shifts at work to pay the bills and feed his family of four.
For many, it was their first time asking for help.
And they told us just how hard it can be.
“I’m shaking,” one woman said, visibly overcome. “I’ve got four adults and two children in the house, and it’s really hard. I’m on a pension. This is a bit embarrassing… thank you so much.”
“Things are really tight,” said another mum of school-age kids. “I’m a full-time working parent that still struggles. I’ve just managed to top up my petrol, but something else has got to give at the same time.”
A dad of two boys revealed: “I’m a bit destitute at the moment, just out of work for the last six months. Today will help me get through to the next pay week. It’s good to know that there are people helping.”
The Emergency Drive Thru, our first since COVID, was held in response to record demand for support. Amid the cost of living, fuel, housing and bills, a boot-load of food can make all the difference: “Having something like this gives people a good break. When we heard about it, I just couldn’t believe it really. It relieves a lot of the pressures.”
But as amazing as Sunday was, it was only one day. We distributed more than 36,000kg of food to thousands of people. Yet, right now, we need enough good, nourishing food to feed 76,000 Victorians today. Tomorrow. Every single day.
Even small acts matter. Like the family who came through the Drive Thru, not to pick up food, but because their kids wanted to donate their pocket money. Gold coins to make sure other kids, other families, have something to eat.