Official Bulletin of Foodbank Queensland | Summer Edition 2015
Foodbank celebrates
20 years in Queensland
Foodbank Queensland celebrated 20 years of operations in
September 2015. In recognition of this achievement, warehouse
manager Kevin Walkden discussed his experience of working with
the non-profit organisation.
Kevin Walkden: Warehouse Manager
Having worked at Foodbank Queensland for 15 of its 20 years
of operations, Kevin provided some insights into how the
organisation has evolved.
What brought you to Foodbank Queensland?
Kevin first heard of Foodbank Queensland when it was located
in Fortitude Valley on Wandoo Street, and a new warehouse was being built in Morningside.
He recalled just how much had changed since his first day on 7 July 2000.
“Foodbank Queensland has come a long way — receiving more donations every three
weeks than in its first year of operations,” Kevin said.
“We now have four trucks collecting supplies and rescuing surplus food in and around
Brisbane to distribute to Queenslanders in need however, this was not always the case.
Foodbank Queensland in 2000 compared to now.
“Originally we used a trailer, which made one collection a day before the first truck was bought in September 2000,” Kevin said.
There is no doubt in Kevin’s mind about the impact Foodbank Queensland has on the community, however there are still so many in need the organisation
isn’t able to reach.
Foodbank Queensland
works to support victims
of domestic violence
There are approximately 180 cases of family violence
reported to police every day in Queensland alone.
Fortunately there are various shelters, refuges
and other domestic and family violence support
services assisting these individuals and their families.
Foodbank Queensland recognises the importance of providing
services to support domestic violence victims and to help those
struggling with this wide-spread community issue, sourcing food
and re-distributing it through support agencies such as Anglicare
and Uniting Care Queensland.
If you would like to find out more about putting an end to
domestic violence, visit the Queensland Government website to
view the ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ report at https://www.communities.
qld.gov.au/gateway/end-domestic-and-family-violence.
As a community, it is important we recognise the emotional and
physical impact domestic violence has on its victims, as well as their
immediate needs with regards to food and shelter.
IN THIS ISSUE
FOODBANK CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN QUEENSLAND
FOODBANK QUEENSLAND WORKS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HILLSONG CITYCARE TACKLES YOUTH HOMELESSNESS ON THE GOLD COAST
FOODBANK PREPARES THE SLEIGH FOR CHRISTMAS RELIEF
RESULTS FROM THE ANNUAL FOODBANK QUEENSLAND GOLF DAY
Page 1
VEGEMITE HELPS FIGHT HUNGER IN SCHOOLS
MEET THE TEAM THAT DRIVES FOODBANK…
CANSTRUCTION BUILDS FOR A CAUSE
FARMERS SAVE WASTED PRODUCE TO FEED THE HUNGRY
DONATIONS THERMOMETER RESULTS
Foodbank Queensland
prepares the sleigh for
Christmas relief
With Christmas just around the corner, Foodbank is
working hard to ensure the holiday spirit is delivered to
those experiencing difficulties in the community.
To do this, the organisation has partnered with corporate supporters
National Australia Bank (NAB),
McCullough Robertson and the
Brisbane Lions to fill the stockings
and bellies of families doing it tough.
Helensvale State High School students, youth support worker Hayley Low, and Hillsong
CityCare youth support workers Jess and Georgia stocking up the crisis pantry.
Hillsong CityCare
tackles youth
homelessness on
the Gold Coast
Volunteers from NAB Corporate
Property and McCullough Robertson
took time out of their busy schedules
to encourage shoppers to donate
grocery items for the Foodbank
McCullough Robertson volunteers
Queensland MacArthur Central
Alison Ford, Peter Stewart and Tia Utz
collection. After only a week, a total of collecting supplies.
1,636 kilograms of food was collected — the equivalent of 2,180 meals.
Supporters at the Brisbane Lions
match day in early September
also contributed to the cause by
generously donating essential pantry
items before the game.
Addressing poverty, hunger and social isolation,
Hillsong CityCare serves to support individuals
experiencing hardship in the community.
Foodbank Queensland is a proud supporter of Hillsong CityCare
and the work it does in the community — helping to achieve an
Australia without hunger.
If you would like to support Foodbank
Queensland during the Christmas
period, please phone (07) 3395 8422
or email [email protected].
Hillsong CityCare spokesperson Jen Maroney said the
organisation’s partnership with Foodbank Queensland eased the
process of ensuring students struggling on the Gold Coast had access
to basic supplies.
Annual Golf Day 2015
Foodbank Queensland’s annual Golf Day saw supporters tee-up
for Foodbank Queensland and the work it does in the community,
raising a total of $46,000 in the process.
“An average of one in five children go to school without breakfast
across Queensland,” Ms Maroney said.
“For this reason, we have prioritised breakfast and lunchtime
programs in local high schools.
Foodbank Queensland General Manager Ken McMillan would like to
acknowledge all those who supported the Annual Golf Day, which
enables the non-profit organisation to continue to help those in need.
“Homelessness in teens completing their schooling is growing. Our
chaplains and school welfare workers have reported these teens
are not captured in homeless figures and often rely on friends or
their extended family — sleeping on couches, mattresses, on the
floor or in garages.
Vegemite helps fight hunger in schools
“Hillsong CityCare is humbled and grateful for Foodbank
Queensland’s generosity and capacity to serve grass-roots
agencies like Hillsong CityCare, allowing our organisation to serve
these students experiencing hardship.
In an attempt to alleviate hunger
in the classroom, Foodbank
Queensland teamed up with global
power leader Cummins to run a
Vegemite drive in October, to gather
essential breakfast supplies.
“The support of Foodbank Queensland has also enabled our
organisation to provide a long-term solution by setting up ‘crisis
pantries’ in schools on the Gold Coast, to ensure students have
access to nutritional supplies,” Ms Maroney said.
The generosity of organisations
like Cummins is critical to ensuring
Foodbank Queensland is able to
continue providing hunger relief.
Page 2
Cummins employees Darrell Bartley
and Corey Lendvai donating the
essential breakfast item.
Queensland Edition
Meet the team that
drives Foodbank
Queensland…
Foodbank Queensland’s staff and Board members play a
vital role in ensuring warehouse operations run smoothly.
Foodbank is extremely proud to have such a wonderful
team supporting its work and took some time to find out
what brought them to the non-profit organisation.
Katie Mickel: Board Member
Katie Mickel comes to the Foodbank
Queensland Board with a wealth of
experience, having worked with a multitude
of not-for-profit community organisations,
such as Karuna Hospice Services and
BoysTown.
What brought you to Foodbank Queensland?
Katie joined the Foodbank Queensland team to help continue spreading the
organisation’s message within the local community, and encourage support
for the work it does.
Barbara Cochrane: Volunteer
Barbara attends to day-to-day
operations in the Foodbank Queensland
warehouse, ensuring everything runs
smoothly and continually strives to
support those less fortunate.
What brought you to Foodbank Queensland?
Barbara heard about Foodbank Queensland when she was
volunteering at St Vincent de Paul Society to provide nutritious
meals for those who seek food relief from The Casserole Bank, and
immediately wanted to know more.
“I love getting involved in the community and doing my part to
improve the lives of others, so I thought what better way to
contribute than helping feed the 80,000 Queenslanders suffering
from food insecurity every year,” Barbara said.
‘Canstruction’ builds
for a cause
With an existing role at BoysTown — a national charity working with
marginalised youth — Katie was thrilled to be involved in the partnership
between BoysTown and Foodbank Queensland, which enables
disadvantaged young people to learn warehousing skills.
“I want to do what I can to help spread the Foodbank Queensland
message because we need Foodbank now, more than ever,” Katie said.
The Pantry
This September, Foodbank Queensland was pleased to
launch a new online resource called The Pantry.
Developed alongside nutrition students from the Queensland
University of Technology, The Pantry is designed to offer suggestions
and recipes for easy meals that are both nutritious and affordable.
If you are looking for some inspiration on what to make for
dinner, recipes and shopping lists can be found on the Foodbank
Queensland website.
Seven teams stepped up to the challenge of
building large structures made from canned
food for the ‘Canstruction’ Brisbane 2015 event,
hosted by Engineers Australia.
Laing O’Rourke towered over the competition and was awarded
first place for the most creative structure. The 4,676 kilograms of
canned food used during the ‘Canstruction’ event was generously
donated to Foodbank Queensland to support those struggling in
the community.
Foodbank Queensland General Manager Ken McMillan would like
to express his gratitude for the overwhelming support of all those
involved in ‘Canstruction’ Brisbane 2015.
Page 3
Farmers save wasted produce to feed the hungry
Farmers Mark and Judy Fritz from M&J Produce donated 23,283 kilograms of surplus produce to Foodbank
Queensland this year, which would have otherwise been wasted or ended up in landfill.
Following a recent visit to the Foodbank Queensland Warehouse, Member for
Burnett, Stephen Bennett MP is encouraging other Burnett and Bundaberg
farmers to support the work of the non-profit organisation.
“One-third of all food grown in the region is wasted or dumped in landfill,”
Mr Bennett said.
“We need to start alleviating the wastage from crops, and if more local farmers
donated to Foodbank, it would go a long way in achieving a sustainable outcome.
“It’s sad to think some of the best food is produced right here in the Bundaberg
and Burnett region, yet there are so many people struggling to put nutritious
food on their table every day,” Mr Bennett said.
Donating excess produce to Foodbank Queensland is a mutually beneficial
way for farmers to support their local communities and reduce waste of their
perfectly edible fruit and vegetable crops.
Photo Mike Knott / APN Pictured: Mark Fritz & Stephen Bennett MP
In addition to M&J Produce, Cross Farms, Snapfresh and Eden Farms also donate their excess produce to Foodbank Queensland, which relies
on this generosity to ensure Queensland families experiencing hardship have access to nutritious foods.
If you would like to support the ongoing efforts of Foodbank Queensland, donations can be made by visiting www.foodbankqld.org.au.
Donations from our partners and individuals allows Foodbank Queensland to ensure vital services and programs can continue.
If you would like to support the work Foodbank does, please phone (07) 3395 8422 or email [email protected].
Donations thermometer update
To date, this financial year has seen Foodbank Queensland provide more than five million meals to struggling
communities in Queensland, an increase of more than 10 per cent compared with the same period last year. This
would not have been possible without the ongoing generosity received from its supporters.
If you would like to contribute to the efforts of Foodbank Queensland in achieving an Australia without hunger, please phone (07) 3395 8422.
July 2014 to
October 2014
4,843,442
meals
July 2015 to
October 2015
5,461,824
meals
3.6 million kgs
4.1 million kgs
IN THE NEXT EDITION...
FOODBANK QUEENSLAND FAREWELLS CHAIRMAN IAN BRUSASCO AO
FOODBANK QUEENSLAND TEAMS UP WITH PARMALAT AND THE NOVA SANDMAN
CAVENDISH ROAD STATE HIGH SCHOOL COLLECTS 20,000 CANS
BRISBANE’S 2015 BIG CITY BARBEQUE
www.foodbankqld.com.au
179 Beverley Street, Morningside QLD 4170
Ph 07 3395 8422 Email [email protected]
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FoodbankQld
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Foodbank Queensland is eternally grateful for the ongoing support of the
Queensland Government Department of Communities