There are 400,000 Queenslanders each year who experience food insecurity, half of them are children, according to Foodbank. Food relief charities in Queensland are turning away 134 people a month on average and 72 of whom are children, Foodbank says in its 2017 hunger report.
This situation, however, is about to change step by step.
In September 2017, Foodbank Morningside, Australia’s biggest food relief organisation, and FareShare, the country’s largest charity kitchen from Melbourne, signed an agreement to reduce food waste and fight hunger in Queensland.
In January 2018, FareShare has acquired a property at 46 Steel Place in Morningside, where Foodbank Morningside plans to build a kitchen for cooking healthy delicious meals to be given to Queenslanders in need.
The kitchen is expected to be operational within 2018.
Foodbank is distributing more than 35 million kilograms of food and groceries yearly or 172,000 meals a day across Australia. It provides 63 million meals a year to more than 2,600 charities and 1,750 schools in the country.
FareShare, meanwhile, is already cooking 5,000 free meals a day being distributed to soup vans, homeless shelters, women refuges, and community centres across the country.
With the new Morningside kitchen, and the partnership between Foodbank Morningside and FareShare, an additional five million meals a year will be cooked and be distributed for free.
FareShare Queensland general manager Kellie Watson said the Morningside facility was chosen because it is conveniently located near the Brisbane CBD. This ideal location encourages participation from businesses and is more convenient for commuting volunteers.
FareShare will be accepting volunteers for the kitchen in Morningside. Interested individuals can contact them as early as now to be updated on progress.
FareShare also accepts corporate volunteering where employees of companies can do volunteering as group.
Foodbank Queensland is inviting everyone to join their second Annual World Food Day to help fight hunger in Queensland and the rest of Australia. Foodbank Queensland is a part of Foodbank Australia, Australia’s largest food relief organisation. In Queensland alone, Foodbank has provided over 20,000 meals in 2016 and almost 8,000 meals in 2017, to date. World Food Day hopes to raise awareness of food insecurity in Queensland.
World Food Day is normally held every 16th day of October. However, Foodbank Queensland will hold their celebration of World Food Day on Sunday, the 15th of October.
In Morningside, World Food Day celebrations will feature an evening of food, drinks, and entertainment. The main stage will be occupied by the Havana Tropical Band to set the cocktail theme and mood. There will be live and silent auctions of memorabilia and unique items.
Guests will be delighted by the exquisite cocktail dishes and drinks that will be served by Brisbane’s best restaurateurs and boutique breweries. They are also the “Diamond Sponsors” of the World Food Day.
Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill
Photo credit: Cha Cha Char/Facebook
Cha Cha Char promises an innovative dining experience as Brisbane’s signature steakhouse. Their wide range of high quality meats were sourced from local Australian producers. Their “Steak Menu” features different cuts of beef that were cooked from the traditional wood-fired grill.
Aside from the steak, Cha Cha Char also serves lighter meals. Their “A La Carte Menu” is inspired by both Asian and European cuisines. They’ll be serving their “special cocktail dishes” for the “special cocktail fundraiser”.
1889 Enoteca
Photo credit: www.1889enoteca.com.au
“Vera Cucina Romana” — 1889 Enoteca
One of the few restaurants that claim to serve “Real Roman Food,” 1889 Enoteca, like any other “enoteche” (wine repository) in Italy, combines a restaurant, a wine bar, a basement level cellar, and a small wine store. Their wine list focuses on natural wines and vintage wines that will make you think of the flavours of the bold, Tuscan countryside.
IL Centro
Photo credit: www.il-centro.com.au
IL Centro is one of Brisbane’s best restaurants at the Eagle Street Pier since 1992. They only use the freshest local produce to serve their “innovative modern Italian menu”. Their signature dish, Sand Crab Lasagne, will be served on the night of the event. The restaurant describes it as a modern Italian dish with a Queensland twist. This creamy crustacean dish is every patron’s favourite when they visit IL Centro.
Mr. & Mrs. G Riverbar
Photo credit: www.mrandmrsg.com.au
Mr. & Mrs. G Riverbar is IL Centro owners’ welcoming bar, located just across IL Centro. Their Bar Team will be serving exotic new cocktails that will compliment the World Food Day’s cocktail fundraiser theme. They are also proud in serving “tapas-style” food menu that are tempting and heavenly to taste.
Jellyfish Restaurant
Photo credit: www.jellyfishrestaurant.com.au
Jellyfish, as its name suggests, specializes in serving the “best” seafood dishes in town. They aim to serve the best fish dishes that are oven baked, crispy fried, char-grilled, soda-battered, and citrus-crumbed. Jellyfish chefs are eager to complement these fish dishes with sauce and extensive range of side dishes. Luckily, the World Food Day guests can have a taste of their menu.
Moda Restaurant
Photo credit: www.modarestaurant.com.au
The Moda Restaurant is one of Brisbane’s most unique restaurants. Led by the famous Chef Javier Codina and front of house host, Francois Le Saveant, they combine rustic and contemporary cuisine to serve their unique menu. Moda provides exquisite dishes that can complement intimate dinners, soiree, and cocktail parties, including the World Food Day.
Newstead Brewing Co.
Photo credit: Newstead Brewing Co./Facebook
Newstead Brewing Co. is one of the most iconic boutique breweries in Brisbane. Their operations started when they established the Newstead Brewing Co. in a 1940s steel warehouse on the Doggett Street back in 2013. Just this year, they already extended their market by establishing a production brewery and pub in Milton.
They will be serving their signature brews at the World Food Day and you may not want to miss this.
A shout out from Michael of Newstead Brewing Co. to come along to #WorldFoodDay! Get your tickets via http://bit.ly/2jmiaiA and see you there!
World Food Day is a global initiative that aims to end hunger and poverty. Over 150 countries around the globe will be celebrating the World Food Day to commemorate the founding of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), an organisation that is dedicated to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.
