Food relief agencies hungry to help

The study by YouGov found that Gen Z (those born between 1996 and 2012) were the most likely to skip meals to save money, with 48% admitting having done so during the same period.

The new research, which reinforced the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis on those struggling to make ends meet, was released by food relief organisation SecondBite, as it announced an ambitious fundraising campaign aimed at providing a million meals for hungry Australians.

SecondBite CEO Daniel Moorfield said the not-for-profit had timed the launch of its inaugural Million Meals Day fundraiser to coincide with the United Nations–backed World Food Day on Wednesday, October 16.

Mr Moorfield said the SecondBite initiative would seek to bring to life the theme of this year's World Food Day – "right to foods for a better life and a better future".

“Support for SecondBite’s Million Meals Day will help ensure that fewer people in our communities – they may be your neighbours, friends or colleagues – have to make the heart-wrenching decision between buying food and paying for other essential expenses,” he said.

“With the need for food relief growing dramatically across the country, Million Meals Day helps to address this challenge.”

SecondBite sources quality surplus food from farmers, retailers and manufacturers and provides it to people in need.

In 2023 the organisation rescued more than 23 million kilograms of unsold, edible food, providing the equivalent of more than 46 million meals to struggling Australians. 

Mr Moorfield said each dollar donated allowed SecondBite to provide up to five meals for people experiencing hunger but the organisation would be able to double this by joining its partners in matching all donations up to $100,000 during the Million Meals Day fundraising drive.

Staff and volunteers will run a telethon at the organisation’s Melbourne headquarters on the day, with food writer Matt Preston and chef Toby Puttock, both SecondBite ambassadors, helping on the phones to process donations from the public.

Mr Moorfield said while helping to feed hungry people in need of support was a priority, food was also a way to link people doing it tough with essential services such as healthcare, financial support, counselling, and housing assistance.

He said the social connections established through food relief programs can be life changing.

“Million Meals Day is not just about food relief; it’s about transforming lives.” said Mr Moorfield.

“Food brings people together and starts a conversation. This movement hopes to create the momentum to enable SecondBite to have an even greater positive impact on the lives of more Australians.”

The fundraising drive geared up as fellow food rescue organisation FareShare announced it would open the nation’s largest not-for-profit kitchen in Melbourne on October 17.

Staffed by chefs and volunteers, the state-of-the-art kitchen will be used to transform rescued, donated, and homegrown food into millions of healthy meals for people struggling with food insecurity.

Launched in 2001, FareShare gives free meals to frontline charities such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women's refuges, and groups providing disaster relief who in turn distribute them to those in need.

The organisation merged with SecondBite in July 2024 in a bid to maximise the reach of both organisations.

Mr Moorfield, who is CEO of the merged entity, said the new kitchen couldn't have come at a better time to support the growing needs of Australians as they do it tough in the cost-of-living crisis.

"With a kitchen area that has expanded by 35 per cent, we will be able to produce a staggering additional 500,000 meals every year," he said.

The site's warehouse has also more than doubled in size, enabling the storage of larger quantities of rescued food, as well as keeping the vegetables and herbs grown at FareShare’s kitchen garden fresh. 

"Since FareShare and fellow food rescue charity SecondBite joined forces, this has enhanced and streamlined the supply of rescued food, further increasing our capacity to support those in need," said Mr Moorfield.

Early bird donations to SecondBite's Million Meals Day fundraiser will be accepted and matched from October 7, 2024.

More information:

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