Foodbank Victoria

The energy was high and the sun was shining at our market yesterday. While we heard many sad stories, it was heartwarming to see smiles as families walked away with bagfuls of fresh fruit and veggies.   A huge thank you to the vibrant Villawood Properties volunteers who brought incredible energy and helped us feed almost 300 families doing it tough right now. 💜   We can’t do this without you. If you’d like to help us continue supporting families in need, please head to the link below. https://lnkd.in/gXJTej8f

Last week we heard from a school where children tried fresh fruit for the very first time in class. Stories like this remind us why partners like SHARP Fruit mean so much.   Fresh fruit is something many families are missing out on, but thanks to Sharp Fruit’s generous donations of citrus and stone fruit across the year, hundreds of children and families have been able to enjoy the taste of beautiful fruit this year. 🍊🍊🍊 Thank you for your support Sharp Fruit, it really is helping make a difference.

Thanks to Peters Ice Cream, our longest standing partners, who spent the day helping us out at one of our 14 pallet markets last week. Nothing beats a day of giving back and handing out ice creams to brighten everyone’s afternoon! Thanks for your continuing generosity and continuing to help us make a difference.

A huge thank you to our friends at the Port of Melbourne for giving us a fresh perspective…..literally! We were thrilled to be part of the Port Open Day boat tours, a fun and family-friendly way to see Australia’s busiest port in action. From the water, we got to spot Foodbank from the other side, reminding us just how connected we are to the lifeblood of Victoria’s supply chain.

A huge thank you to the leadership team from Chobani Australia who joined us at Foodbank to pack emergency hampers this week. These hampers are being prepared in advance to ensure we're ready to respond instantly in the event of any natural disasters over the coming months.   While we sincerely hope they won’t be needed, we’re committed to being prepared. Thanks to Chobani’s support, we’re one step closer to making sure help is ready when it’s needed most.

Looking for a team volunteering day with purpose (and pudding)? 🎁   This December we’re inviting some very kind-hearted businesses to be part of something special - helping provide a warm Christmas lunch to people doing it tough in the Morwell region.   Your team will help fund and serve a three-course Christmas lunch to people doing it tough at our Morwell Community Food Centre. You'll be hands-on helping prep in the kitchens, setting tables and serving guests with a smile. This is more than just a meal - it’s a moment of care, connection, and community.   ✨Spots are still available on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 December✨ Can you help? Reach out to us at partnerships@foodbankvictoria.org.au - we’d love to hear from you!   For more info: https://lnkd.in/gDpvEnr3   Looking for other team volunteering opportunities to help Victorians in need this Christmas? We have limited spots available at our Yarraville, Altona and Brooklyn warehouses in December! Visit our website or book here. https://lnkd.in/gMUJkGj2 

Today we launched our Christmas Appeal, and it's never mattered more. Last week's Hunger Report revealed over 503,000 Victorian households experienced the most severe form of insecurity, skipping meals or going days without food. Almost 1 in 2 Victorian renters couldn't afford enough food and 1 in 5 households earning $91,000 or more are dealing with food insecurity and almost 1 in 10 are amongst the most severely impacted. This appeal is important to us and the families we feed. Link below if you can be an angel at the table for someone this Christmas. https://lnkd.in/gXJTej8f

More than 500,000 households across Victoria faced the harshest levels of food insecurity in the past year and heartbreakingly, that includes over 412,000 children living in homes where meals were skipped or entire days went by without food.   That’s the reality laid bare in the Foodbank Hunger Report 2025, released today. It confirms what we see every day: hunger is no longer hidden, and it’s affecting more families than ever before. If you can help, please head to the link in our bio https://lnkd.in/gXJTej8f

A word from our amazing State Volunteer Manager Renee Belsey on International Volunteer Management Day... With 500 volunteers across 4 sites and 3 remote programs, my role as State Volunteer Manager is both strategic and hands-on—balancing operational excellence with people-centred leadership. Every day brings new challenges, decisions, and moments of connection. I’m incredibly lucky to work alongside three passionate Volunteer Coordinators, two of whom started as volunteers themselves. Their dedication and lived experience enrich our program in ways I’m deeply proud of. It’s hard to pinpoint one standout moment over the past three years. What stays with me are the small, powerful interactions: - A newly arrived international student sharing tea and laughter with a retiree. - A quiet, anxious volunteer slowly finding their confidence in a space where they feel safe, accepted, and celebrated. These moments remind me of the true power of volunteering. We come together for a common goal, but each person’s journey is unique. That’s what makes this work so meaningful—and why I love what I do.

A team of volunteers from Origin Energy recently joined us on the Foodbank Mobile Supermarket Bus, helping deliver essential groceries to communities doing it tough. Origin are long-time supporters of Foodbank Victoria, and we’re so grateful for their continued commitment to giving back. Their team always brings incredible energy, compassion and care to everything they do with us. Thank you, Origin, for helping us make a difference to those who need it most.