FOODBANK VICTORIA ANNUAL SNAPSHOT 2017— 2018 2 CEO’S MESSAGE DID YOU STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE IN LAST 12 MONTHS? IF YOU DID, YOU WERE FAR FROM ALONE. Our 2017 Hunger Report found 3.6 In the last year, food insecurity – and million Australians had experienced food food waste – came into the public insecurity at least once in the previous consciousness at a level I’ve not seen 12 months. For 60 per cent, it was a during my decade at Foodbank. IN THE LAST YEAR, monthly occurrence. Over a quarter of It started in July with the ABC series FOOD INSECURITY these individuals said it was happening War on Waste, which shocked the nation at least weekly. AND FOOD WASTE by exposing us to the realities of our ““ CAME INTO THE PUBLIC How can this be? In a developed country consumer culture. A segment on Foodbank CONSCIOUSNESS AT rich with resources, a healthy economy and resulted in a flood of enquiries – individuals progressive culture, how is this happening? wanting to volunteer and donate food or A LEVEL I’VE NOT SEEN funds to help. DURING MY DECADE Look a little closer and you’ll see the In October, our Hunger Report gained AT FOODBANK. disparities. We grow more than enough traction in the media. The high cost of food – in fact we export about 65% of DAVE MCNAMARA living and bill shock were identified as farm produce – yet people are going CEO FOODBANK VICTORIA the main causes of food insecurity. As the hungry. Our economy is strong, yet report found, everyday working Australians household debt levels are among the are now going without food in order to highest in the world. And what has pay other bills. happened to values like tolerance, empathy and collective responsibility Reports coming out of the social services for our society and environment? sector painted a stark picture too. FOODBANK VICTORIA ANNUAL SNAPSHOT 2017–2018 3 The Australian Council of Social Service FOOD And the rest of our team continues to Inequality in Australia 2018 report found Our Food Team continues to work tirelessly provide the support to help make it wealth inequality is increasing, with the to bring in more food. See page 4. all possible. Our engagement with the richest income earners in Australia now community is growing. We were selected owning more than 60 per cent of the by ABC Radio Melbourne as their charity wealth, while the poorest have less than SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUBS partner for 2018. We’re partnering with one per cent. Our School Breakfast Clubs Team more corporates, and in March we held our continues increasing the opportunity for first corporate cycling challenge to raise The Salvation Army’s Economic and Social children to learn by delivering healthy funds – The Hunger Ride. See page 10. Impact Survey found the average Newstart breakfasts into 500 state primary schools. recipient is living off just $17 a day after In June, a major milestone was reached As we head into our 89th year providing accommodation expenses. with 5 million breakfasts served since the emergency food relief to vulnerable program commenced in 2016. See more Victorians, my thanks must go to the And Anglicare’s Rental Affordability on page 6. amazing team that makes it happen – Snapshot found a chronic shortage 49 staff members, 2189 volunteers, of affordable rentals. Not one Melbourne 459 charity partners, 460 food donors, rental property was found to be affordable COMMUNITY PROGRAMS 240 food drive organisers, 6398 financial for a single person on Newstart or Our Community Development Team supporters – including the Victorian Youth Allowance. continues to work closely with our 459 Government – our Board chaired by charity partners across Victoria, deliver Dorothy Coombe, and our Patron the In April, we released our Rumbling Farms to Families pop-up markets, and Hon. Linda Dessau AC Governor of Victoria. Tummies report – looking at child hunger develop and implement targeted new in Australia. The stats were horrifying: programs to tackle hunger – like our new Sadly, food insecurity will continue to more than 1 in 5 children in Australia live Essential Pantry program. See page 8. be a problem while the root causes go in a food insecure household. In fact, it is unaddressed. Until we can unite on solving more likely for a child to be food insecure these complex issues, Foodbank must exist than an adult. OPERATIONS to serve the growing population falling Our Operations Team continues to adapt on hard times. While dialogue and discontent about for growth, expanding our warehouse the issue grows, our charity partners capacity, recruiting a new regional are dealing with greater numbers of transport provider and transitioning children, adults and aged pensioners 40% of our power usage to solar energy. requiring assistance – and we are facing See page 12. an increasing demand for food. We won’t be discouraged. VOLUNTEERING DAVE MCNAMARA Our Volunteering Team continues to CEO FOODBANK VICTORIA provide the manpower – more than 25,000 hours from 2189 individuals in 2017/18! 4 FOOD IN, FOOD OUT SOURCE, KGS 2017–2018 8.4 MILLION RESCUE, KILOGRAMS OF FOOD FEED, = 15 MILLION NOURISH. MEALS Thanks to the generosity of our supporters across the food and grocery sector, we were able to distribute more than 8.4 million IT JUST HELPS US GET THROUGH A kilograms of staple, fresh and frozen foods COUPLE“ OF WEEKS AND HELPS US KEEP in 2017/18 – the equivalent of providing more than 15 million meals. “THE BILLS DOWN IN DOING SO; AND GETTING FRESH FOOD IN TO KEEP US The amount of fresh produce, fruit and A BIT HEALTHIER AS WELL. vegetables increased by 55 per cent to more than 1.9 million kilograms. DYLAN, RECIPIENT AT A FARMS With people experiencing food insecurity TO FAMILIES POP-UP MARKET often reliant on cheap nutrient-poor food, providing nutritious produce is core to our vision of healthy food for all. In addition to food, we also distributed almost 400,000 kilograms of personal hygiene and household items, which are in high demand. IN 2018/19 WE HOPE TO SOURCE EVEN MORE FRESH PRODUCE AND PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED. FOODBANK VICTORIA ANNUAL SNAPSHOT 2017–2018 5 KILOS DISTRIBUTED CHARITY INTERSTATE SCHOOL PARTNERS FOODBANKS BREAKFAST CLUBS x 459 x 6 x 500 = 6,294,984 KGS = 1,442,751 KGS = 718,878 KGS 83% 38% VICTORIA 35% RURAL METRO I 62% N 65% METRO T RURAL 17% E R S T A T E LOCATION OF FOOD LOCATION OF CHARITY PARTNERS DESTINATION SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUBS PRODUCT TYPE PANTRY FRESH PRODUCE, FROZEN PERSONAL STAPLES FRUIT AND AND CHILLED HYGIENE AND VEGETABLES HOUSEHOLD ITEMS = 4,703,595 KGS = 1,926,790 KGS = 1,441,257 KGS = 391,881 KGS SOURCE VICTORIAN NATIONAL LOCAL FOOD DONORS DONORS DRIVES x 387 x 73 x 240 = 3,465,477 KGS = 5,452,617 KGS = 69,985 KGS 6 SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUBS HEALTHY BREAKFASTS = BETTER ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM. THANKS“ FOR ALL THE YUMMY FOOD. “MY FAVOURITE ONE IS FRUIT CUPS HAMISH, SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUB ATTENDEE FOODBANK VICTORIA ANNUAL SNAPSHOT 2017–2018 7 THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH BREAKFAST “IN THE “ MORNING. I LIKE COMING TO SCHOOL TO HAVE BREAKFAST, IT’S A GOOD START TO THE DAY. DEMETRIOS, SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUB ATTENDEE Photo: Jason Edwards, Newspix In June 2018, our School Breakfast Clubs In May it was announced the Breakfast program reached a major milestone. Club menu would expand to include Minister for Education James Merlino Vegemite and honey from Term 3, visited Morwell Park Primary School to 2018. In keeping with the all Victorian- mark 5 million breakfasts served since manufactured menu, the honey is being the program commenced in 2016. sourced from Beechworth Honey and the Vegemite is manufactured There are now up to 50,000 breakfasts by Bega in Port Melbourne. MENU being served each week in 500 of Victoria’s Oats most disadvantaged state primary schools. School Breakfast Clubs are supporting Vita Brits Wholegrain Cheerios But what is this achieving? some of the vital ingredients to success in the classroom – concentration, Muesli In March an interim program evaluation engagement and behaviour. UHT milk report was released by Victoria University. Baked beans Among the findings from the second full IN 2018/19, WE HOPE TO Fresh apples year of the program: Canned fruit SECURE THE FUTURE Fruit cups Vegemite • 81 per cent of schools reported improved OF THE PROGRAM AND Honey concentration as a result of students DEVELOP MORE INITIATIVES ALL MADE IN VICTORIA attending Breakfast Club TO ENSURE ALL KIDS IN • 76 per cent reported improved social VICTORIA HAVE ACCESS relationships TO HEALTHY FOOD. • 72 per cent reported improved engagement in classroom activities • 70 per cent reported improved behaviour. 8 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS GETTING FOOD TO VULNERABLE VICTORIANS IS WHAT FOODBANK HAS BEEN DOING SINCE 1930. IT’S THE SMALL THINGS THAT CAN REALLY MAKE A “DIFFERENCE. MOVING INTO CRISIS ACCOMMODATION AND BEING SUPPLIED WITH AN ESSENTIAL HAMPER MAKES “ YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY CARES. IT’S THESE THINGS THAT HELP KEEP HOPE ALIVE. EMMA, FORMER RECIPIENT OF LAUNCH HOUSING SERVICES FOODBANK VICTORIA ANNUAL SNAPSHOT 2017–2018 9 THESE POP-UP MARKETS ARE FANTASTIC, BECAUSE “EVERYTHING IS FRESH, IT KEEPS A LOT LONGER, AND IT’S NICE“ TO GET REALLY FRESH FOOD, AND FRESH MILK, AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF. GLORIA, RECIPIENT AT A FARMS TO FAMILIES POP-UP MARKET In June 2018 we announced a pilot program in collaboration with Launch While a lot has changed in almost Housing – one of Melbourne’s leading 90 years, our core ability to reach homelessness organisations.