Harsh reality for ‘everyday’ Australians

While the festive season signals indulgence and feasting for many, a record number of Australians are going hungry this year.

The country’s leading food charity has reported a staggering increase in the number of people seeking food assistance, and it predicts the problem will only worsen over the holidays.

OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn said the food rescue charity thought demand had reached “an all time high” during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it had continued to “grow exponentially” amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Charities supported by the organisation have reported the number of people seeking food relief has increased by more than 60 per cent.

“In every state, there are charities that we are not able to support – and the ones that we do support tell us that the demand for food has increased so significantly over the last six months that they need more food from us,” Ms Kahn said.

“It’s all over the country.”

The holiday season is likely to send demand spiking even higher, according to the OzHarvest founder.

“For the people we service, it’s a much harder time of the year because there is this notion of frivolity and joy for most people who can afford to celebrate,” she said.

“For those who can’t, it’s even more jarring.”

According to this year’s Food Bank Hunger Report, more than two million households in Australia went hungry in the last year for financial reasons. Some skipped meals while others went whole days without eating.

Research shows that children are the most likely to suffer, with 1.3 million minors living with food insecurity over the past year.

Foodbank Australia chief executive Brianna Casey said the Hunger Report uncovered the shocking reality that food was unaffordable for many Australians.

“The numbers being reported are massive and hard to process, but they represent the harsh reality of living week to week when the cost-of-living crisis collides with an income crisis and the household budget now lists food as a discretionary spend,” she said.

The Hunger Report reveals that more than 306,000 households across the nation are receiving assistance from food relief organisations on an average day.

About a third of those have never experienced food insecurity before this year.

“The worst part is that our research shows that more people than ever are googling food relief and those people that are coming into our market are so embarrassed and they just apologise for coming in there,” Ms Kahn said.

Queues at the OzHarvest market in Sydney have swollen by 300 people in a few short months.

More than half of the households struggling to meet their food needs have someone with a job, according to Foodbank research.

“Food insecurity is now affecting literally everyday Australians,” Ms Kahn explains.

“Because they never needed it before, it’s very confronting to actually make the decision to get help.”

With the cost of living set to soar even higher over the next few months, charities around the country expect the situation will continue to worsen.

“The challenges are getting ever bigger,” the OzHarvest founder explained.

“There are three things we need – food, money and time.”

Ms Kahn created the world’s first free supermarket in her quest to eliminate hunger and food waste, followed by a bustling free restaurant in the heart of Sydney.

Yet despite the best efforts of philanthropists and volunteers, she recognises her charity can’t fix the worsening issue without assistance.

“OzHarvest on its own is never going to be able to solve this problem,” the entrepreneur said.

“It’s going to take all levels of society and it’s going to take collaboration.”

So when you’re tucking into a big Christmas feast or indulging in your New Year’s Eve celebrations, spare a thought for those who are going without this festive season.

Or better yet, spare some food, money, or time to help a charity provide for those in need.