Deahne Hobbs

It is hard to believe that hunger is happening in the ‘lucky country’. It’s a predicament largely hidden by stigma and shame, but the reality is we’re all likely to know someone who is affected. This has never been truer than now as more people than ever being unable to provide for themselves and their families. It’s not just people on the streets but people in our street. When it comes to Australian children, the picture is even more alarming. Today it is more likely for a child to have experienced food insecurity than an adult. 1.3 million children have lived in severely food insecure households in the past 12 months. Foodbank Australia works with 2,625 frontline charities and 2,980 schools providing essential food and groceries to more than 1 million vulnerable Australians each month. We work with the entire food and grocery industry to source key staple items so that Foodbank warehouses will always have them in stock. That way, we’ll be able to provide nutritious and convenient food such as cereal, milk, tinned vegetables, pasta, pasta sauce, meal bases and meat for as long as people need it. We also support emergency services, providing essential supplies to people during natural disasters such as bushfires, floods and cyclones. Every $1 enables Foodbank to distribute 2 meals to Australians in need. Despite Foodbank’s scale, hunger is worsening and charities report that they don’t have enough food and groceries to assist those in need. With your help, we strive to do more for everyday Australians who need a hand. To find out more, visit www.foodbank.org.au