Week of Care
From July 14 to 20, we’re shining a light on the everyday essentials many of us take for granted, and the difference they make for people doing it tough.
Did you know that 3.4 million households across Australia are facing food insecurity, with more than half experiencing the most severe level of hardship? That means regularly skipping meals, reducing portion sizes, or even going entire days without food.
And when money is tight, we know that household and personal care items are often the first to go.
Things like toothbrushes and toothpaste, period products, makeup, moisturiser, nappies and baby wipes shouldn’t be a luxury — they’re basic essentials. For someone who has lost everything in a fire or flood, or is escaping domestic violence, these everyday items can make all the difference in helping them feel clean, cared for and ready to face the day.
That’s what Week of Care is all about — raising awareness of the growing need for personal and household care items, and the real impact they have on people’s lives.
The need is real and getting bigger
- In 2024, the demand for personal care items like toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant rose to 48%, up 9% from 2022.
- Requests for household cleaning products also grew to 47%.
- And the need for period care remains high at 26%.
- For families with children, the struggle is even greater. More than half (51%) of food insecure households with kids asked for personal care or cleaning items this year.
“The toiletries that are available mean I can treat myself to something that I would not have the financial means to do so at this time and knowing the fact these items are donated makes it even more special.”
What was donated to Foodbank last year
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partners, more than 1.88 million kilograms of non-food essentials were donated to Foodbank last year. That’s a huge volume of everyday items. All sorted, packed and delivered to people doing it tough right across the country 💜
We’ve highlighted some items we love below.

THANK YOU
In times of natural disaster, emergency, or just everyday hardship, our personal and household care partners are always ready to lend a hand.
We are so grateful for their ongoing support in helping make sure Australians everywhere have access to the essentials they need.
Below are our incredible national donors.
Local, state and territory donors not pictured — but equally valued.