A special message from our CEO

After two years of immense challenges, many Australians finally have reason to hope, enjoying new beginnings and reconnection with family and friends. For so many others, however, the battle is far from over.

 

Too many people across NSW and ACT still face an uncertain future. There is financial insecurity, fear and ongoing hunger. For many, the struggle began with the devastating impact of the pandemic, but job losses, lack of available work due to lockdowns, family pressures and natural disasters like fire and flood have simply made matters worse.

And the fact is – too many people were already hungry before the pandemic even began. The crisis many families face now comes on top of the hunger that already existed. Even more heartbreaking is the new face of hunger in Australia. There are people silently struggling now who have never experienced an empty pantry in their lives. They are hurting, and they feel ashamed – when they are not to blame.

That’s why we are so very grateful to have the support and kindness of people like you.

No matter what we have faced in the last two years, you were always there beside us, continuing your financial support and cheering on our dedicated team as we reached out to as many communities as we could, bringing hope through fighting hunger.

Please continue your support. There is so much more to do, and we will never stop.

Thank you.

John Robertson

You delivered joy for Khane on Christmas Day

Providing for a young family of five is challenging for any adult at the best of times. But when a young person steps into the role of guardian, that challenge is doubly hard. That’s why we are so happy to share these beautiful images of Khane and his four young siblings, Ashton, Gemma, Opal and Linque who were so happy to have a table full of food at Christmas, thanks to your kindness.

 

The story of Khane and his siblings is heartbreaking – but it’s also a story of love and hope. Khane is an incredibly selfless, determined young man who refused to allow tragic circumstances to get in the way of keeping his family together. He took on the role of guardian after the loss of their parents and step-father.

“I just want the kids to have a roof over their head, well fed, clothes on their back and living a half-normal life. Some days, we struggle to have enough food for everyone. Keeping the pantry full is hard, and going shopping is so stressful. Some days I can’t even give them a school lunch.”

So on Christmas Day, to have a table laden with good food and smiles on everyone’s faces, was a dream come true for Khane. “I just want to say thank you so much. All I wanted for Christmas was to see the kids smile. I got my wish.”

Young people like Khane are truly amazing. Your incredibly generous support means less hunger and struggle, so they can focus on study, supporting each other and staying together – and hope for a brighter future ahead.

I CAN’T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR ALL THE HELP YOU’VE GIVEN ME AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS OTHERS LIKE US.

recipients smiling with their two boxes of food donation

fours siblings at the kitchen table

SCHOOL BREAKFAST IS BACK – THANKS TO YOU

Starting the school day with a full tummy and ready to learn – that’s what we wish for every Aussie kid. Sadly, it’s not the case. Around three kids in every classroom across Australia goes to school hungry, and last year during the pandemic, this crisis deepened even further.

 

During lockdown, kids who relied on Foodbank’s School Breakfast 4 Health Program were left hungry. Desperate families with barely enough food to pack a lunchbox couldn’t give their kids the energy they needed to get through the school day. While schools did their best to support local communities, the School Breakfast Program was sorely missed.

That’s why we are so delighted to tell you that the moment school resumed across NSW and ACT after lockdown, so did the School Breakfast 4 Health Program – and to see big smiles on little faces was joyous for communities like Trundle Central School.

“We know our kids so well, we can tell if a kid hasn’t eaten. Their behaviour is erratic, their energy levels are low, their concentration is low, their ability to sit still is low. It not only affects the kid who didn’t eat, it affects the whole classroom. We’re so grateful for Foodbank’s support…it makes a massive difference.” -Gerry Capell, Acting Principal, Trundle Central School.

Starting the school day with a full tummy and ready to learn – that’s what we wish for every Aussie kid. Sadly, it’s not the case. Around three kids in every classroom across Australia goes to school hungry, and last year during the pandemic, this crisis deepened even further.