| # NAME | States they service: |
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NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, SA, WA, NT |
| NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA, WA | |
| NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA, WA |
Ever found yourself searching for a “food bank near me“? With over 2 million Australian households facing hunger in 2022 alone, the need for food assistance is soaring. Rising living costs and natural disasters are stretching many to their limits.
If you can, consider donating to a community food bank. We’ve gathered a list of local food banks across Australia, along with advice on what to donate and how to easily contribute.
Or, if you need food, these are some of the food aid and food banks in Australia by state.
Food Aid & Food Banks in Australia By State 🍎🥖🧀
| Foodbank | State | How to Donate |
| Sydney Food Pantry | NSW | Drop your donations at 24 Wright St, Hurstville NSW 2220 or 2 Stanley St & Balmain Rd Leichhardt NSW 2040. https://www.sydneyfoodpantry.org/sydney-food-pantry |
| Addi Road Food Pantry | NSW | Drop off your food at Addi Road Food Pantry Building 1, Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. https://addiroad.org.au/donate-food/ |
| The Rev Bill Crews Foundation | NSW | Donate online here https://www.billcrews.org/donate/ |
| Empower Australia | VIC | Cash donations online via this link or visit a centre closest to you. The main hub is 412 City Road Southbank VIC 3006, Sundays 9.30am – 1.00pm. https://www.empoweraustralia.com.au/get-involved/ |
| Mornington Community Support Centre | VIC | Visit https://www.mcsc.au/donate to see the different donation options. |
| Fareshare | VIC | Donate or volunteer here https://www.fareshare.net.au/donate-vic/ |
| FoodAssist Toowoomba | QLD | Visit https://www.foodassist.com.au/donate-food to see how you can get involved. |
| Angels Community Group | QLD | Goods can be dropped off at 45a Walla Street, Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-2pm. https://www.angelscommunitygroup.com/goods-donation |
| ADRA Community Centre | QLD | Visit https://www.adra.org.au/donate/ to donate. |
| Communities At Work | ACT | Donate food and other groceries to several drop-off points. Find your closest donation centre here https://www.commsatwork.org/get-involved/donate-essentials/ |
| Canberra City Care | ACT | You can make a financial contribution online at https://www.canberracitycare.org/donate.html |
| Gordon Community Centre | ACT | Donate online at https://www.anglicare.com.au/services/mission-community-engagement/survive-and-thrive/gordon/gordon-donations/ |
| Pathway Community Centre | SA | Donate online at https://pathway.clovie.com.au/ |
| Heart & Soul Group | SA | Donate here or organise a food drive fundraiser https://heartandsoulgroup.org/get-involved |
| Faithworks Centre | SA | Drop off your food donations to 5 Clifton Street, Blair Athol, 5084 South Australia. https://www.assist.net.au/food-individual.html |
| The Pantry WA | WA | Donate online at https://thepantrywa.com.au/ |
| Margaret Court Community Outreach | WA | Donate food or clothing and drop off at 14a Neil Street, Osborne Park WA 6017. Other locations found here: https://www.mcco.org.au/make-a-donation |
| Dreambuilders Care | WA | Donate online at https://www.dreambuilderscare.org.au/donate |
| Food Rescue | WA | Donate or volunteer https://unitingwa.org.au/get-involved/donate/ |
| Baptist Care NT Food For Life | NT | BCNT accepts cash donations at https://bcnt.org.au/donate-to-bcnt/ |
| ShelterMe | NT | Find out more here https://www.shelterme.org.au/ |
| Hobart City Mission | TAS | Donate goods, services or volunteer at https://hobartcitymission.org.au/donate-goods/ |
| Waterbridge Food Co-op | TAS | Visit https://www.waterbridgefood.com.au/ for more information. |
| Wyndarra Community & Resource Centre | TAS | Volunteer your time or donate https://www.wyndarra.org.au/services/ |
Australian-Wide Community Food Aid & Community Food Banks 💛
Foodbank
States they service:: NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, SA, WA, NT
Foodbank is one of the largest community food bank organisations in Australia, providing 88 million meals a year to more than 2,950 charities and 2,890 schools around the country. You can donate money, you can donate meals, and you can donate your time.
How to donate: Foodbank asks that you deliver your donations via mail or courier. You can find the state-based address by visiting the Foodbank website. You can also make a Woolworths or Coles online order and have it sent directly to the warehouse.
OzHarvest
States they service:: NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA, WA
If you are a registered business with good quality surplus food, OzHarvest will rescue it. If you’re an individual, OzHarvest accepts donations, with $25 delivering 50 meals to people in need. You can also help Ozharvest fulfil its mission by volunteering your time. OzHarvest will collect almost anything suitable for human consumption, as long as it’s food safe.
How to donate: Donate money online, or if you’re a registered business, you can fill out an online form and Ozharvest will contact you.
SecondBite
States they service:: NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA, WA
SecondBite is a non-profit food bank that works in every state and territory in Australia. In 2011, Coles and SecondBite formed a national partnership, which led to a rapid expansion of the organisation’s operational scale and reach. SecondBite prefers to receive bulk food donations that meet its needs and specifications. If you have smaller, ad hoc donations, they recommend contacting a local charity to donate your stock. You can either drop the food off at one of SecondBite’s warehouses, or they’ll come to collect it from you.
How to donate: Fill in an online form detailing your donation and SecondBite will be in touch.
What Are Food Banks? 🤔
In a nutshell, food banks are non-profits that gather and distribute food to help hunger-relief charities. They serve as storage and distribution centres for smaller agencies on the front line, rather than giving food directly to individuals in need.
How Do Community Food Banks Work? 👀
Depending on the organisation, community food banks work in different ways. However, typically they involve donations from members of the public, restaurants, schools etc. and then forward that food collected/donated to Australians in need.
What Type of Food Can You Donate to Food Banks? 🍚🥫
The type of food you can donate to community food banks will again depend on the organisation, and it also typically depends on what’s needed most, which will vary from time to time.
Generally speaking, the types of food community food banks seek are non-perishable items, like pasta, rice, cereal, tinned goods, and packaged snacks, non-refrigerated drinks, coffee and so on. You can also donate things like toiletries and personal hygiene products.
| Things You Can Donate 👍🏻 | Things You Can’t Donate 👎🏻 |
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How Can I Donate to My Local Community Food Bank? 🛒
There are several ways to donate to a community food bank.
- You can do it either by taking the food directly to the local food bank
- Or you’ll find collection points in supermarkets across the country.
With some community food banks, like the hunger relief charity Foodbank, you can make online Woolworths or Coles orders and send them directly to the charity.
Food Bank FAQs
How can I get free groceries in Australia?
In Australia, you can get free groceries from community food banks and relief organisations. Some of these services may require you to demonstrate financial need. Contact local food banks directly or visit their websites for specific eligibility criteria and distribution times.
Can anyone go to a local food bank?
While food banks aim to assist those in need, most require some form of eligibility assessment to prioritise individuals and families facing financial hardship. It’s best to reach out to the food bank in advance to understand their requirements.
What do food banks do?
Food banks collect, store, and distribute food to those who cannot afford it. They work through donations and volunteers, serving as a bridge between surplus food and those in need. They often partner with local community groups and services to reach a wider network of people requiring assistance.
