Responding to our communities food needs

Join our community buyers group to access fortnightly fresh produce.

Supporting our communities nutrition needs by working together

for 1-2 people

for 3-4 people

for 4-5 people

We are pleased to present our 2023 food resilience programs impact report.

This overview captures insights from our four primary food access and support programs, data from feedback surveys and an overview of these important programs in delivering not only food relief, but a range of health and wellbeing outcomes.

  • Eat Well Wardell - Food relief

  • Social Eating - Mental health and wellbeing

  • Grow Well Wardell - Therapeutic Horticulture

  • Budget Bites - food literacy and education 

Our goal for 2024 is to build a greater understanding of our communities food relief needs and the benefits of these programs through a series of case studies. We will also continue to offer this diverse and dynamic suite of programs to alleviate food insecurity, support community health and build food resilience for our region.

Produce bags

Fortnightly ordering - reduced cost fresh produce available for pickup at Wardell CORE

Pantry bags

Reduced cost groceries and pantry staples available daily.

Drop in to Wardell CORE Tuesday - Saturday

Heat and eat meals

FareShare offer us a range of tasty, nutritionally-balanced meals that address the storage and infrastructure challenges often faced by people who experience food insecurity.

Community Social Night

We offer a weekly hot meal and community social event for our region and provide an evening of amazing wood fire pizza prepared and baked by our volunteer team.

Join in Fridays from 5:30-7:30 at Wardell CORE.

Local Produce

When life gives you lemons… drop them into the community hub to share ! We support and distribute a wide range of seasonal community grown produce.

Grow Well Wardell

Check out the rang of food resilience and back yard gardening projects we have on offer, from workshops, working bees, field trips and crop swaps.

COMMUNITY SKILL SHARING

Join Song Yan for a community skills sharing event, experience Chinese cooking and culture, preparation and hand made dumpling techniques

Sunday March 24 from 10 till 12

Register your spot :

Eat Well Spend Less : Cooking demonstration and dinner with The Wellness Collective

Nutrition & Cooking Presentation

We were join by experts Kerryn (Practicing Dietitian) and Mary (Home Economist) from The Wholesome Collective  for a live (and fun) nutrition and cooking presentation which included a delicious meal, cooking tips for preparing meals on a budget, and a relaxed conversation around improving mental and physical health.

All participants received a FREE copy of The Wholesome Collective’s nutrition and cookbook and a magnetic reusable meal planner. This was a great opportunity for anyone keen to learn how to make a grocery budget stretch a little further without having to compromise on health.

Huge thanks for the support of Northern Rivers Community Foundation.

Food insecurity isn’t just about going hungry. It occurs when a person has worried about running out of food. It’s much more common than you think.

We know that the rising costs of living, ongoing financial hardship and challenges of disaster recovery mean that many people are experiencing this type of food insecurity in our region.

We offer a range of supported food access options for through partnerships with charities and business and by working together with our community.

Our commitment is to :

  • improve access to fresh and staple foods in our community

  • provide choice and autonomy

  • build social connection and support

  • create opportunities for reciprocity

  • ensure that our services are trauma informed

  • enable our community to be nourished

Further reading and related resources

  • Understanding food insecurity in Australia 
    This CFCA practice paper and its companion practice guide,     Identifying and Responding to Food Insecurity in Australia, describe the prevalence, experience and impact of food insecurity in Australia, identifying the populations most at risk and exploring various responses.

  • Responding to food relief need

    The Australian Institute of Family Service and Child Family Community Australia explore “Why do people need food relief” and “What are Australians’ experiences of accessing food relief” and the need for food and food-based solutions that are client-focused, dignified, nutritious, sustainable and equitable.

  • Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS). (2020). 'I can finally eat fresh fruit and vegetables': A survey of 955 people receiving the new rate of JobSeeker and other allowances [Press release]. Strawberry Hills, NSW: ACOSS. Retrieved from www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ 200624-I-Can-Finally-Eat-Fresh-Fruit-And-Vegetables-ResultsOf-The-Coronavirus.pdf

  • Creating Community Food Security through Neighbourhood Houses 2021 FINAL with funding recommendations for the future. NHT summary from surveying Neighbourhood Houses about their Food Security related activities.