Park for a Purpose
inspires community action

Foodbank WA’s inaugural Park for a Purpose event brought together community leaders, business professionals, volunteers, supporters and people with lived experience for an unforgettable overnight event at our Perth Airport branch.

Held on 10 September, the immersive experience encouraged 80 participants to step outside their everyday routines and engage with some of the most important issues facing our community, including food insecurity, housing insecurity, resilience and wellbeing.

Throughout the evening, guests took part in a range of interactive sessions, meaningful discussions and powerful lived experience stories that highlighted the realities faced by many Western Australians.

Rather than a traditional fundraising event, Park for a Purpose gave participants the opportunity to shape their own experience, choosing from a variety of sessions that explored both the challenges people face and the innovative solutions helping to create stronger and more resilient communities.

One of the many highlights of the night was seeing participants gathered around the fire pits, marshmallows on sticks in hand, listening intently to facilitators and guests share personal stories of hardship, resilience and hope. The relaxed setting created space for honest conversations, reflection and connection, reinforcing the power of bringing people together to better understand the experiences of others.

The event also welcomed Year 12 students from Carey Baptist College Forrestdale through their Service-Learning Program. Their enthusiasm and willingness to engage with important community issues demonstrated the valuable role young people play in creating positive change.

Park for a Purpose was made possible through the generous support of our major partners Perth Airport and Skyfields by Perth Airport, together with presenting partners Brain & Cognitive Function Clinic and Perth Integrated Events Team, as well as a wide network of community and corporate supporters.

A key goal of the event was to raise funds towards a new Mobile Foodbank vehicle, helping us expand access to affordable food for vulnerable communities across Western Australia.

While fundraising results are still being finalised, the event was a tremendous success, bringing together people from different backgrounds to learn, listen and take action.

Importantly, together we have already raised more than $80,000 towards our goal of $200,000 to fund a third Mobile Foodbank. While there is still fundraising to do, we are well on our way to realising our vision of getting another Mobile Foodbank on the road and out into the community, helping us reach more Western Australians experiencing food insecurity.

Most importantly, Park for a Purpose created meaningful conversations about issues that often go unseen. It reminded us that food insecurity, housing insecurity and financial hardship can affect anyone, and that lasting change happens when communities come together with empathy, understanding and a shared commitment to making a difference.

Congratulations to Arnya, Emma and Victoria for creating an unforgettable event experience, and one that will leave participants talking for weeks to come.

Published on 18 September 2026.