At Loaves and Fishes Caboolture, the doors are always open, and every day, more people are walking through them.

“We’re looking at serving over 5,000 people a week who just pop in, even if it’s grabbing a couple of basics here and there,” Zoey, the Caboolture Site Manager shared.

Behind the scenes, the operation runs at full pace. Food is collected, orders are placed, shelves are replenished – and then replenished again. “Damian our truck driver collects from Foodbank every single day,” said Zoey. 

Zoey completes the ordering for both the Caboolture and Slacks Creek stores, constantly adjusting as the needs of the community continue to rise. She shared “The demand is growing. So, we’ve had to meet that need.”

What makes Loaves and Fishes special is its openness. There are no forms to prove hardship, no labels placed on people walking through the door. “There are no restrictions for who can access our pantry. Everybody is welcome to come in.” Zoey said. And they do. Elderly people, individuals, small families and large families. Some travel long distances just to access this vital support. As more people discover what Loaves and Fishes offers, demand has only continued to grow.

Zoey shared, “We have a lot more new customers. Everyone’s telling their friends.  We’ve had an increase of people in and out of the doors, which has been absolutely amazing to be able to support more people.” 

But with rising demand comes real challenges, particularly when it comes to essential items. “The demand is very high for certain items and we run low ever so quickly on stuff. It can be hard to then restock that, but we are making do,” Zoey shared. Protein is one of the hardest items to keep on the shelves, yet it’s one of the most important.

Since 2022, Zoey and her partner Damian – the truck driver – have been part of the Loaves and Fishes community, growing alongside the organisation as local needs have intensified.

The $50 hampers offered by Loaves and Fishes have become a cornerstone of support for the community, and filling them with nutritious, varied food is a priority the team takes seriously.

“Hampers are something that we do Monday to Friday, eight to four. If we’re open, hampers are available,” Zoey said.

Each hamper is more than a box of food – it’s a trolley filled with essential food and care. Pantry staples, a 5-kilogram bag of assorted protein when available, frozen vegetables, microwave meals like FareShare, and fresh fruit, vegetables and bread to finish it off.

On their busiest days, the team can create up to 80 hampers. “Our volunteers pack the trolleys and then they come out and people are beside themselves. I have people crying at times, overwhelmed by the support.” 

One story has stayed with Zoey. A new customer came in after going through a divorce. She had never known Loaves and Fishes existed. “She felt bad for coming in, thinking that she was taking from people in greater need. And I said, no, everyone’s welcome,” said Zoey. She received a hamper, shopped in the store, and then broke down in tears. Zoey walked her to her car as she shared her story – returning to study, unable to work, supporting three children on her own. “Her grocery bill has been cut by $400 weekly just by coming here and buying the hamper,” said Zoey. That saving meant she could continue her studies and pay for her education. The impact was immediate and life-changing.

For Zoey and the team, moments like this are why they do what they do. They understand that asking for help can be hard. Zoey wants everyone to know, “You are not taking from anybody. We are here to support everyone. You are helping us to grow. You are spreading the word for me which is all you need to do for me so more people can be supported.”

At Loaves and Fishes, community isn’t just welcomed, it’s built, one hamper at a time.