Food rescue & relief

Daily conversations with the charities we support revealed the depth of despair that many faced throughout 2022 and continue to endure. The need for food relief remains incredibly high, with new people seeking help every day. Our drivers are working hard to rescue fresh and nutritious food from our network of donors, but it’s not enough to feed everyone in need. Hear about how hard it is from Joanne at Helping Hands Mission in Victoria.

To help meet increased demand our emergency food relief programs supported many vulnerable communities throughout the pandemic. As these short-term funded projects have come to an end, we remain focused on meeting community needs with our food rescue operations. Together with other food relief organisations, we are committed to seeking solutions for the ongoing challenges of food insecurity as a sector.

Hear Joanne’s conversation

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  • 30,235,417

    meals delivered

  • 11,483,360

    kgs food rescued

  • 3,692,736

    kgs food purchased

  • 449,350

    cooked meals

  • 404,239

    food hampers

  • 3,000

    food donors

  • 1,870

    charities

  • 73

    vans

We depend on OzHarvest a lot, and I mean that.”

George

Uniting Care, Footscray, VIC

Mobile Market

Mobile Market

Helping regional communities get back on their feet

Natural disasters continue to impact food insecurity with regional areas hit hardest. The OzHarvest Mobile Market has moved across NSW to where the need is the greatest, working closely with locally run volunteer organisations to host weekly pop up markets or deliver food drops. The April floods redirected this service to Northern NSW where local emergency centres reported fresh produce as the common ‘missing piece’ in recovery resourcing.

While the flood water receded the need for fresh produce remains high. The Mobile Market is welcomed by each community, offering food and friendship as locals reconnect as they rebuild their lives.

Hear from our volunteers

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  • 400

    Pop up markets

  • 110,000

    kgs fresh produce delivered

  • 220

    Households supported weekly

There's absolutely no way that we can cater for the extent of the need here in this community without partnerships like OzHarvest.

Joel

WardellCORE Founder

Special Thanks

Anglicare
Chill
CWA
Doing it For
Our Farmers Murrurundi
Eurobadalla Shire
Council
Red Cross
Nyngan
RFS
volunteers
Salvation Army
Leeton

Waterloo Market

Waterloo Market

A safe space for food, comfort and hope

The OzHarvest Market in Waterloo continues to be a regular source of comfort in these truly hard times. Our team of incredible volunteers now welcome over 1,800 customers every week. The impact of the rising cost of living has meant more new people are coming to the Market, feeling desperate and sometimes even ashamed as it’s their first time asking for help.

Every week we provide fresh produce, pantry staples and cooked meals, but our Market is so much more than food. It’s a safe place where kind words, conversations, a smile, and human connection goes a long way.

Hear from Margaret

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  • 85,000

    customers

  • 446,925

    kgs rescued food

  • 100

    volunteers weekly

Our goal is to make people smile! Razia never used to speak, she just pointed at the food.  Now she greets me with a hug and a chat, she says ‘you are my family, my sister.’

Carmel

OzHarvest Market Volunteer

City of Sydney
Department of Land & Housing
Woolworths

Cooking
For A Cause

Cooking for a Cause

purposeful team building cooking meals made with love

After two years of mass-producing cooked meals as part of our emergency food relief response, OzHarvest chefs were delighted to welcome corporate teams back to our kitchens as ‘Cooking for a Cause’ sessions got back into full swing!

This program is crucial to raise funds and create delicious gourmet meals made with love which are delivered to local charities that feed people in need. Teams enjoy seeing their impact through the number of meals created and are always inspired by our zero-waste philosophy and tips for reducing food waste at home.

Hear from a bp team member

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  • 475

    sessions

  • 7000

    participants

  • 70,000

    meals

For some, the meals we make today will be the most nourishing meal they’ve had in a while and it’s amazing to be part of that.

Sophie

bp Australia

Special Thanks

Bank of Queensland
bp Australia
NIB
Origin Energy
Rabobank
Westpac

Special Thanks

ALDI
bp Australia
Brisbane City
Council
Channel Seven
Telethon Trust
Chill
City of
Sydney
Department of
Land & Housing
Department of
Social Services
Drakes
Foodland
Goodman
Foundation
Harris
Farm
Hello
Fresh
Marley
Spoon
NSW Department of
Communities & Justice
Pact Group
SA Department of
Human Services
Sustainability
Victoria
VIC Department of Families,
Fairness and Housing
VIC Department of Jobs,
Precincts and Regions
QLD Department of
Environment & Science
QLD Department of Communities,
Housing and Digital Economy
Woolworths