Fighting Food Insecurity

In early 2020 when we were enlisted and inspired by Moving Feast and other food relief agencies, to directed our efforts and profits towards food relief during lockdowns. For the 2 years from April 2020 to April 2022, our chefs cooked hundreds of nutritious and culturally diverse meals a week to distribute to community members and partner agencies. Our Food Relief personnel also packed and delivered grocery boxes to the households of families moving on from family violence situations and experiencing financial hardship. This program was made possible by a Working for Victoria Grant, funding from StreetSmart's Smart Meals Program and most importantly, donation from our community.

What made our food relief different?

Autonomy

We believe in empowering people going through difficult transitions by equipping them with the raw materials necessary to feed themselves and their families. Our order form allowed the end-recipient (or an advocate like a case-manager) to select food based on their specific needs.

Relevance

Circumstances change, and so did our support. We asked about which appliances a home was equipped with (refrigeration, microwave, oven etc.), how many adults and children were in the household and if there were any dietary requirements. More relevance, less wastage.

No Compromises

We didn’t compromise on the quality or nutritional integrity of our food relief. The same ingredients were used in our commercial products as our food relief. They came from the same local suppliers and adhered to the same standard.

Overall Food Relief Impact

1,634 Grocery Kits

Delivered to homes facing food insecurity across Melbourne since early-2020.

247 Individual Households

Supported, housing approx 683 adults and children since early-2020.

27,691 Meals

Cooked and distributed to homes and partner organisations since early-2020.

Community Meals

Utilising the same ingredients, skills and kitchens as our premium catering, our community meals were cooked in a rotating selection of curries, soups, stews and pasta dishes. Focusing on locally sourced fresh ingredients and nutrient density, these meals were delivered fresh or frozen to partner agencies for distribution in their communities or directly to individuals.

What kind of meals did we produce?

  • Nepalese Vegetable Curry with rice
  • Pasta with Arrabiata sauce
  • Boeuf Bourguignon with potato
  • Thai Yellow Curry with rice
  • Fish Chowder
    + many more depending on season...

Where did they go?

  • Homelessness support agencies like Launch Housing
  • LGBTQI+ support agencies like Many Coloured Sky
  • Community centres in Alphington and North Melbourne
  • School meal programs in low socio-economic areas
  • Into Grocery kits distributed direct to households by Kinfolk
    + many more depending on availability and demand...

Grocery Kits

Kinfolk's Grocery Kits came full of nutritious fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, along with other household staples like free range eggs and dairy. Recipients were connected to us via agencies like inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, McAuley Community Services for Women and Cohealth. They ordered directly from us and we delivered to their door in our refrigerated van. The majority of the recipients identified as female and typically lived in 3.3 person households. More than half were single parents, and over a quarter had infant children. Just over 70% of recipients came from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

What was inside an average kit?

  • 7.5kg of fresh fruit & veg
  • 2.5 litres of fresh milk
  • 1.5 litres of yoghurt
  • 9 hand-made ready-to-eat meals
  • 30 free range pastured eggs
  • 1 litre of olive oil
  • A bag of cookies
  • House-made baby food (if applicable)
    + more depending on stock and season...

Who helped make this happen?

From Food Relief Recipients

"I have a huge burden off my shoulders, not knowing how I'm going to feed my daughter, breaks my heart in a way I didn't know it could be broken and coming home to the food wow I cannot put into my words my gratitude."

-Grocery Kit Recipient

"Dealing with financial hardship due to family violence, it helps us on our journey finding our feet again, one less stress knowing we can have good food on the table... So thankful for your help + kindness.“

-Grocery Kit Recipient

"I am very happy because it solves my current food shortage problem. I feel the groceries have upgraded my family's living standard since I have no income.”

-Grocery Kit Recipient