Foodbank NSW
& ACT Annual Report 2024
Providing food relief to more than a million people each month.
25,060,930
meals provided to families across NSW & ACT
48,471
and school weekend packs provided to families in need throughout the year
53%
food delivered outside of metro areas
23 pop up markets
providing more than 120,000 kilograms of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and produce for rural communities.
725 schools
supported through our School Breakfast 4 Health program
748 partners
in our network, collaborating to deliver vital food relief to communities
51,000 hours
of volunteer support helping 71 full time staff members
A message from our CEO
Reflecting on a year of challenges, including the cost of living crisis, Foodbank NSW & ACT is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our donors, partners, and volunteers, whose efforts have brought hope and vital food relief to countless lives.
John discusses the challenges faced in 2024As we reflect on another year, I am filled with immense gratitude for the unwavering support and dedication our supporters have shown to Foodbank NSW & ACT. The year has been marked by significant challenges, particularly the ongoing cost of living crisis that has impacted so many in our community. Despite these hurdles, your commitment to our mission has remained.
The rising costs have placed additional strain on families and individuals already struggling to make ends meet. Yet, thanks to your generous contributions and tireless efforts, we have been able to provide essential food relief to those in need, whenever they needed it. Your support has not only helped to alleviate hunger but has also brought hope and comfort to countless lives.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our partners, whose collaboration has been crucial in expanding our reach and impact. To our donors, your financial contributions have been the backbone of our operations, enabling us to continue our vital work. And to our volunteers, your dedication and hard work on the front lines have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Together, we have navigated these challenging times and made a tangible difference in our community. As we move forward, I am confident that with your continued support, we will overcome any obstacles and continue on our mission to end hunger with compassion and determination.
Thank you for being an integral part of the Foodbank NSW & ACT family. I look forward to what we can achieve together in the coming year.
John Robertson
CEO, Foodbank NSW & ACT
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Ending hunger by sourcing and distributing food for people in need.
Last year, thanks to our generous community, Foodbank NSW & ACT provided over 12.7 million kilograms of food and groceries. We also distributed nearly 1 million kilograms of essential non-food items, offering families vital support during tough times.
Dig deeper into the numbersAt Foodbank NSW & ACT, we’re grateful to have generous donors committed to supporting our mission. Last year thanks to our community, we purchased 3.5 million kilograms (%) of food and groceries to help families doing it tough. The remaining 9.2 million kilograms (%) was kindly donated to help more families doing it tough.
Donated vs purchased split
Last year we distributed nearly 981,000 kgs of non-food items including personal care items, pet foods, baby care and more to make sure families doing it tough have what they need.
On average, we have 500 different products for community partners to choose from in our warehouse.
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Bringing fresh food relief to rural communities
Foodbank NSW & ACT’s Pop-Up Markets Deliver Over 120,000kg of Nutritious Produce to Regional Families in Need.
Read more about our rural food relief servicesThere are less food relief services outside major population centres. Foodbank NSW & ACT’s fresh product pop up markets work to bridge this gap for rural communities by working with our local community partners across the region to bring fresh, healthy and nutritious fruit and vegetables, free of charge, to local families and individuals seeking essential food relief.
Each pop-up provides more than 5000 kilos of fresh produce and provides a welcoming space for 300+ families to access enough fresh food, for a whole week. Foodbank purchases the fresh produce for these pop-up markets, as some food donations can be more ‘surprise’ chain than ‘supply’ chain.
The pop-up markets bring an additional 5000-10,000 kilograms of free fresh produce per regional town for residents; that’s more than 930,000 serves of fruit and vegetables for the community.
More than 120,000 kilograms of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and produce are distributed through our Pop-Up program.
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The most important meal of the day:
School breakfast programs changing outcomes for kids
Read about the benefits we’re providing children in our community Foodbank NSW & ACT has run the School Breakfast 4 Health program for many years to give students the opportunity to eat a wholesome, nutritious breakfast on a regular basis.
Having breakfast has been shown to have a positive impact on factors such as physical and mental health, social skills, concentration, behaviour, attendance and academic outcomes.
It’s shocking to know that around three kids in every classroom across Australia are going to school hungry. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It sets children up to concentrate and learn, but unfortunately not all children are able to start the day with a healthy breakfast at home. Our School Breakfast 4 Health program steps in, supplying quality food products to registered schools, free of charge, to ensure all children have access to a nutritious breakfast before school.
We have supported 725 schools with millions of serves of breakfast in the past year with items such as cereals, UHT milk, oats, muesli bars, bread, spreads, canned and fresh fruit.
Ruse Public School
From Ruse Public School, Simone Chomicz, a devoted mum, grandmother, and school staff member, has spearheaded an inspiring initiative to address child hunger and support learning. Simone understands the crucial connection between proper nutrition and a child’s ability to thrive in the classroom.
The school’s breakfast club began in April 2024, after Simone noticed children eating their lunches early in the morning. She saw firsthand how rushed mornings and tight budgets left many students without a proper start to their day. With the support of the Parents and Citizens Association (P&C), school staff, and volunteers, the program now serves breakfast three mornings a week, offering a welcoming environment where students can enjoy a nutritious meal and engage with peers.
Starting the program wasn’t without hurdles. Efforts to secure donations from businesses were met with limited success. Simone’s perseverance led her to Foodbank NSW & ACT School Breakfast 4 Health Program. Through Foodbank’s Program, the breakfast club receives fresh fruits, multigrain bread, and pantry staples that ensure students have access to healthy options.
Simone expressed deep gratitude for Foodbank NSW & ACT’s role, saying, “This program is not possible without their generosity. Our children are our future, and they need love, support, and a nutritious breakfast to start their day.”
The impact of the School Breakfast 4 Health Program goes beyond physical nourishment. Teachers report that students are calmer, more focused, and excited to learn. One standout story is of a young girl in the school’s support unit. Initially shy, she found confidence and joy by volunteering at the club, even inspiring her mother to join. “The change in her is just mind-blowing,” Simone shared.
The program represents true community spirit, with parents, local businesses, and even students stepping in to help. Children learn valuable life skills like washing dishes and serving meal, while volunteers create a sense of belonging for all.
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United in our mission to end hunger in NSW & ACT
Food insecurity is a big problem, requiring a big, coordinated response, and we rely on countless partners to do what we do, and we couldn’t do what we do.
Read Melissa and her daughter’s storyOur objectives ensure we work “paddock to plate” which means we partner with the food and grocery industry, including farmers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and retailers, to source food and capture donations saved from landfill. We also collaborate with suppliers, manufacturers, and transporters to produce key staple foods that don’t come in sufficient quantities via rescue channels.
Our staff and volunteers are the final and crucial ingredient to this coordinated effort. FBNA have 71 paid staff, including full-time, part-time, and casual. Each day, our amazing volunteers partner with Foodbank to fight hunger by sorting and labeling items, stocking shelves and packing food and grocery orders to distribute to our community partners. Our volunteers contributed 51,000 hours of work at our Distribution Centre over the last financial year, equivalent to 26 full time staff.
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Fighting food waste, redistributing it to where it’s needed most
There’s enough food in Australia to feed everyone, yet 1 in 3 households in NSW & ACT are going hungry.
In the last four years, we’ve more than halved the amount of waste we’re producing, despite increasing our services for those in need.
We’re fighting food waste by redirecting and repurposing 9,224,888kg of food and groceries to feed hungry families.
Of all of the kilos of food received to FBNA, less than 1% ends up in waste.
Foodbank NSW and ACT would like to thank the following:
A Flemming
A Williams
Agrico Produce
All Seasons Produce
Amazon Web Services
Assembly Funds Management
Australian Global Marketing
Axia Office
Baxter Charitable Foundation
Big W Hoxton Park
Bob & Petes 100% Yum
Bonaccord Quality Produce
Boustani Bros
Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia
Broadwaters Foundation
Bruce & Joy Reid Trust
Buchan Consulting
Campos Coffee
Carol Stening Family Foundation
CBRE
Col Johnson & Co
Colgate-Palmolive Australia
Comhar Foundation
Costco Lidcombe
Credit Suisse
D Klimenko
D’Anastas Fresh Produce
DC Specialty Coffee Roasters
Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club
Ferrero
FLK it Over
Foton Mobility Distribution
Fresh Produce Group Australia
G Rowell
Giving Machine Sydney
Golden Grove Citrus
Greater Blacktown Business Chamber
Harris Morrison Fund
Harry & Marion Dixon Foundation
Hayes Charitable Foundation
Heaven Acts Christian Church
Humanitix
Inova Pharmaceuticals
James N. Kirby Foundation
JLDJS Foundation
Joe’s Citrus
K Almgren
Keo Charitable Foundation
Kids West
KNEV Reynolds Charity
KRT Williams
L Church
L Harris
L Salamon
Lindt & Sprüngli (Australia)
LMR Collins
Lowenden Foundation
M Chuda
Marich Foundation
Matana Foundation for Young People
Moffatt Fresh Produce
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network
My Muscle Chef
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation
Nexba Pty Limited
Norman Family Foundation
Noumi Trading
OJI Fibre Solutions
Onezero Financial Systems
OpenText
Pace Farm
Pacific Life Re (Australia)
Phoenix Vege Farms
Qudos Bank Arena
R Rich
Ray K Ghalloub & Sons
Red Dirt Melons
Redbelly Citrus
Richardson & Wrench
Riverbest Produce
Riverina Fresh Produce
Rombola Family Farms
Rugby Farming Group
S Pendall
Salesforce
Scentre Group
Supabarn
Sydney Markets
Syngenta Australia
T Unthank
Taste Right
The David Norman Family Trust
The Lottery Corporation
The Tony Robbins Foundation
Toveill
University of Western Sydney
Workers Lifestyle Group
Zunahme Prosperity Fund
Foodbank NSW and ACT
50 Owen Street, Glendenning NSW 2761
office@foodbanknsw.org.au
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