foodshareaustralia

Not an uncommon story

I am sitting with my housemate Daniel after a long day at work. We crack open a beer and unwind from the day. He has a bruise across his left eye. I has asked him about it. “I got in a tussle with a homeless guy” he tells me.

Daniel is an Outreach Worker at Launch Housing, an independent organisation aimed at ending homelessness. He walks the streets of Melbourne on a weekly basis and spends time with our forgotten and looked over citizens. He offered them support and links the to vital social support services. Many would be surprised to find that every night there are hundreds of people in Melbourne without a bed to sleep. The Youth Projects center, based in Hosier Lane, recorded 280 unregistered homeless clients in a month-long period in June this year

Today’s story is not uncommon.

Daniel found James in the city during his street beat. Like any other day he approached to offer support and to assess James' situation. The conversation started calmly enough. “I was asking him how his day was and how he ended up here” Daniel says. The interaction was normal enough. Daniel then started suggested places James could go for support. James replied with “I don’t trust any of them, they’re out to get us.” James was referring to the government. Daniel immediately identified that this fellow had a mental illness.

You see, many of those who live of on streets of Melbourne suffer from some type of mental illness. Recent ABS data shows that of those who had reported being homeless at least once in their lives, more than half had experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months, 3 times higher than among those who had never been homeless.

A trained social worker Daniel attempted his best to work around the issue, that's when things got sour. James quickly turned on Daniel. Shouting and accusing Daniel of being from some government agency out to get him. That’s when James swings a punch at him and landed right below his left eye.

“You alright mate?” I inquired. Daniel just shrugged it off. “Just another day on the beat mate” he responds.

We talk of solutions and what the average person can do to help. Daniel explains that he specializes in the most disenfranchised homeless in Melbourne, the primary homeless or ‘rough sleepers’, many with mental illnesses. “Unfortunately many fall through the cracks of the system. Their mental illness creates an extra barrier to accesses support services.” he says.

“If you really want to help out, when you see a homeless person begging, don’t give them your change. Buy them some food. That’s the best way to start helping out” he adds.

Find out how to help the homeless buy buying a FoodShare meal at your local cafe.

11:47
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Food Security

FoodShare

Figure 1: The Food Security Continuum[1]

Food security is a right for all people.[2]

What is food security?

Isn’t this what every child needs, every person has the right to? A safe home, secure food?

Food security does not exist for at least 5% of Australia’s population:

o unemployed people

o single parent households

o low-income earners

o rentals households

o young people

o Indigenous

o culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)

o socially isolated people [3]

o those who misuse alcohol and tobacco

o disabled, unwell or frail

Why is food insecurity part of the life of so many in Australia?

o o fresh, healthy food too expensive

o o lack of mobility

o o living in a remote location

o o it’s just too hard

o o inaccessible due to poor health

o o lack of knowing about a balanced diet of nourishing food

The 3 essentials of food security[4]

1) Food access - acquire and consume a nutritious diet

o o buy and take food home

o o store, prepare, and cook at home

o o have understanding and skills to make suitable choices

o o wherewithal to shop for and prepare food

2) Food availability - the supply of food in a community can affect the food security of o o o individuals, households or an entire population:

o o location of food supplies

o o availability of food

o o price, quality and variety of available food [5]

3) Food use: the appropriate use of food based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care.

3 types of food security

o o secure

o o insecure but without hunger - stress or unpredictable access to food, or regular eating of non-nutritious food

o o insecure with extreme hunger - meals are frequently missed or inadequate

If Hilary Clinton has asked, “could (we) be doing more to help those who are hungry or in need of shelter? [6]

maybe, you and I need to take action with:

Like our Facebook page!

Click here: https://www.facebook.com/foodshareaustralia/

Author: Janet

[1] https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/food-insecurity-australia-what-it-who-experiences-it

[2] United Nations World Food Summit in 1996 - United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, 1996

[3] Strategic Inter-Governmental Nutrition Alliance of the National Public Health Partnership [SIGNAL NPHP], 2001

[4] World Health Organization, 2011

[5] Nolan, Rickard-Bell, Mohsin, & Williams, 2006

[6] The Australian Jewish News, October 7, 2016

11:38
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Foodshare visits Fareshare

It’s in the foyer that you notice that this organisation is different. As I waited for my appointment at Fareshare, I could see the main area where the food is prepared. The area was a hive of action, with people coming and going with crates of ingredients in various stages of preparation. It was clear by the workers faces that they were happy and enjoying their jobs even when it was cutting onions or cracking their hundredth egg. I guess it’s the purpose behind their activity that is helping them smile as their work.

Fareshare is a not for profit organisation that rescue food from various sources around Melbourne, that would otherwise go to waste and prepare wholesome and nutritious meals for Melbourne’s homeless and most disadvantaged.

As you walk through the establishment you first notice that they are busy, very busy which can only reflect the size of the problem that they are tackling. Over 644,000 people seek food relief every month in Australia and unfortunately 44,000 are turned away simply because a lack of resources, one in three being children. It’s hard to believe this happens in Australia, the world’s 15^th richest country out of a total listing of 185.

The largest room in the facility is the pastry room hundreds and hundreds of Quiches and sausage rolls are prepared daily for the most in need. It is these meals that prove most popular, as they are able to be eaten on the street and are the preferred meal of the homeless and most in need. Not every has the ability to make it to a charity to enjoy a traditional sit down meal. It begins to dawn on me as this was explained to me the reality of some people’s lives and how a simple warm meal can be the highlight of their day and the one of the few positive experiences at a difficult time in their lives.

Fareshare do not charge for their services and can only function through grants and philanthropic support. It is Foodshare’s intention to support Fareshare in their mission to “ensure nobody goes hungry” by providing a reliable source of financial support that can ensure they have the necessary resources to achieve our mutual objective of achieving food security in Australia.

To learn more visit www.fareshare.com.au or check out Fareshare’s video:

https://youtu.be/I7Jz2MjqskA

21:45
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Universal Pay as you feel at Lentil as Anything - a business model against hunger in Australia?

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Say YES to advocate for the disadvantaged!

Have you ever been in a restaurant where you pay what you want? Why would people open up a restaurant like that? What is their purpose and does such a business work long-term?

Why?

Shanaka Fernando grew up in Sri Lanka, a country which was influenced by war for several decades. People identified themselves with war, they suffered, they had not enough food and seeked for it. Shanaka experienced hunger during his first twenty years - a factor which influenced him intensely. As he knows the feeling of seeking for food, he wanted to change something. He opened up Lentil as Anything - the first restaurant in St Kilda in year 2000.

“When money loses its value,
the goodwill and kindness we extend
to each other will emerge as the ultimate
and most sustainable currency of exchange.”

Lentil as Anything is a not for profit community organisation which provides vegetarian and vegan meals. As a customer at that restaurant you can choose between different meals for breakfast, lunch or dinner and pay what you feel the food is worth into a treasure chest.

The idea sounds debatable but it works!

The demand at Lentil is high as an avagerage of 7500 to 8000 people eat there every month. Hence, since then 5 more restaurants opened up: 4 in Melbourne and one in Sydney.

Their mission and vision is clear to us

Lentils as Anything provides a wholesome and nutritious meal where money is not a concern.

With eating at the restaurant, the customer has the opportunity to contribute towards a world with respect, generosity, trust, equality, freedom and kindness rule.

How was my own experience at Lentil as Anything?
When I entered the Lentil as Anything restaurant in St Kilda, I could feel the highly motivated vibe and the happyness of the volunteers. The restaurant was quite busy - which is good for the business. I also saw two homeless people who ate a warm meal and were warmly welcomed by the staff. Somehow I could understand why everyone was happy here: People helped other people with disadvantages by providing their time and motivation to work as a volunteer in the restaurant.

When the homeless people left the restaurant, I recognized their smile - they had a warm and healthy meal today and could pay what they could afford.

Its limitations

With its Pay what you want business model, the restaurants rely on a specific amount of customers who pays just enough to pay wages, rents etc. The case in Preston shows that not every restaurant is successful: The Lentil as Anything restaurant in Preston has to close due to few customers and less sales during the winter term (Read here). So there is a need for the restaurant to be on the right location with inhabitants with a specific amount of wages and an area with a specific buying power.

With Foodshare with its Buy One Give One business model, there is a high potential of a long-term impact on reducing hunger in Australia. If more restaurants partner with Foodshare and people are willing to buy a Foodshare menu item, we can have a great impact on reducing hunger in Australia. We have the ability to grow as a Foodshare community in order to fight against hunger.

The following TEDx Talk is about Shanaka's touching story behind Lentil as Anything:

Do you want to support Lentil as Anything? Click here for more information:

Lentils as Anything website: http://lentilasanything.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lentilasanything/
Donate here: http://lentilasanything.com/donate/
Read his interview here: http://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/the-lentil-messiah-or-just-a-very-naughty-boy-20130105-2ca4i

Please also like our Foodshare Facebook Page HERE!

Photos taken by Ngoc An Cao

17:47
4 Comments

2&5: Improving access to fresh food

FoodShare

"We are re-branding Norlane, as not just a place where drug dealers and car thieves come from..., it's a place where great produce and amazing jam comes from" Katie, 2&5 Founder.

I was left with a smile and a tear after learning about a great new social venture launched in one of the poorest areas of Victoria, Norlane, just north of Geelong.

In Norlane one in four households do not have any vehicle, and 40% of households only have one car. Most people would think this is a positive sign indicating positive alternatives to car ownership however it's not the case in Norlane as there is limited public transport and cycling is not so practical an alternative. When access to a vehicle is the only way to access fresh fruit and vegetables it becomes a significant problem that leads to public health issues and the problems lead on from there, which unfortunately Norlane have no shortage of.

A new venture called "2 & 5" has been established to address this problem. 2&5 is named after the number of portions of fruit and vegetables we should eat every day and is achieving its goal of providing access to fresh fruit and vegetables to local residents, who before this venture started had no local access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

Katie of 2&5

"2 & 5" have established a market garden that supplies their fruit and vegetable store, a lovely coffee shop that also sells it's own brand of jams and chutneys which are becoming very popular in the region.

"2&5" don't stop there, they are employing long term unemployed locals and are truly changing peoples lives in many different ways. True success, of which Katie, the founder of "2&5" should be proud.

I made the trip to "2&5" to see it for myself and was deeply moved by the people behind this venture and their purpose. Something so simple and for many taken granted can have a significant impact on so many peoples lives. If you're in the area or even if you're not, drop in and support someone making a real difference. Spread the word.

Watch their inspiring video here... https://youtu.be/su-mRSFdECc

PS - 2&5 are looking for a General Manager, so if you're interested click here : <http://www.socialtraders.com.au/news-and-events/portfolio-enterprise-2-5-recruiting-general-manager/>