When was the last time you sat down with nothing in your hands and simply counted 5 things you were grateful for? Has it been a day? A week? A month? Maybe even longer? Don’t feel bad; in today’s buzzing and rapidly changing environment it can be almost impossible to make the time in your day to list even a few things that make your life better, but it’s important to remember that if you’re reading this article, you’re probably one of the lucky people that do not have to worry about your next meal.

For 1 in 7 of the nation’s population, this is not the case. And, this increases dramatically to 1 in 4 for the Indigenous population, depending on the location.

At Food For Change, we are determined to bring this statistic down to zero. That’s why we have a number of processes in place that go directly towards feeding hungry Australians and developing a more abundant Australia. As such, it is important to consider how we got here. What is causing food insecurity in Australia?

There are a number of major issues causing food insecurity within Australia that affect more people in greater ways than you may expect. One in particular, is financial hardship. With the increase in grocery store pricing, it is now more difficult than ever for low-income earners to afford basic groceries – with people often needing to choose between heating and eating, a choice that should never need to be made.

Furthermore, food literacy is greatly underrated, with people across the nation struggling to know how to strategically purchase and prepare healthy meals on a budget. So, those who are geographically or socially compromised, struggle further to afford and access produce, causing food insecurity.

Who faces food insecurity in Australia?

Food insecurity impacts more people than you may think – from your coworkers and neighbours to and even members of your family. That’s because those deemed as society’s most vulnerable, such as low-income earners and single parent/ wage holders, are at a greater risk of not being able to afford groceries. Other vulnerable groups include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those facing cultural or language barriers, the elderly, socially isolated individuals, and people experiencing or facing risk of homelessness.

So, what does Food for Change do?

Food For Change was founded by Matt Donovan in 2016 on the one core belief that nobody in Australia should go hungry, and is dedicated to growing and rescuing food to support the 2500+ food relief organisations around the country feeding hungry Australians. With a number of steps in place to make this goal possible, all of our grown or rescued meals, as well as donations, are given directly to those who need it most – via already-existing food relief agencies of various sizes.

And… What can you do?

Ending the issue of food insecurity within Australia is no easy task – and it cannot be done alone. That’s why we are calling on you to extend a hand and be there for your fellow community members.

At Food For Change there are a number of ways you can get involved such as:

  • Volunteering at one of our farms, either individually or as a part of a corporate group.
  • Donating through one of our various channels such as a one off payment, monthly donations, or through subscribing to our monthly fresh food boxes.
  • Growing your own produce at home by using our seeds of change.
  • Committing to reducing food waste by either donating excess food, purchasing just the right amount of fresh produce, and/or creating your own at-home compost bin.
  • Starting open and honest conversations around the food insecurity crisis within Australia to develop awareness and help build a bigger and stronger community committed to ending food insecurity in Australia.

We are grateful to have the ability to help those in need and alleviate food insecurity in Australia. With the incredible support of our employees, volunteers and partners, in just over 5 years we have been able to grow over 350,000 meals, rescue more than 1.25 million meals, and provide 190,000 support meals.

While this number is hugely reflective of the immense support and strong sense of community at Food For Change, we still need your help.

So, perhaps, this week, help give something that someone else can be grateful for – and join our community at Food For Change.