Food relief & affordability

INITIATIVE FOCUS AREA:

The price, cost and affordability of food, meals and diets in the community and the charitable provision of food, groceries or meals.

Food and meal relief charities

Not for profit organisations that cook, prepare and deliver or provide on-site free meals and fresh produce to the community.

CASE STUDIES OR EXAMPLES:

FareShare Australia

Meal Relief Charity.

Australia

Community-Fridge

A community food initiative in Frankston, which is restocked weekly.

Victoria

Food Community Case Studies

Case studies showcasing emergency food relief and community programs supporting food security across regional Western Australia.

Western Australia

The Food Centre

Community-based not-for-profit, registered charity organisation that provides affordable groceries, clothing, household goods and social interaction.

South Australia

OpenMeal

An app that collects donations from individuals and then distributes them as meal credits from participating restaurants.

USA

Kununurra Community Garden Kitchen

A not-for-profit initiative that provides a space for the community to be educated and involved in growing edible gardens using permaculture ethics and principles.

Western Australia

Student Pantry Program — DC Food Project

Provides students easy, discreet access to non-perishable food at school on an as-needed basis.

USA

Seniors Community Bag Program — DC Food Project

Delivery of boxed produce and non-perishable food items to seniors.

USA

Food subsidies and vouchers

Subsidy schemes, credits or vouchers that increase food affordability to targeted communities.

CASE STUDIES OR EXAMPLES:

Food Subsidy in Remote First Nations Communities

An Australian government subsidy scheme that reduces the cost of essential items in certain remote First Nations communities.

Australia

Social Supermarket Project

Collaboration between local food relief organisations designed to bridge the gap between emergency food relief and general food retail.

South Australia

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Vouchers

A federal funded program that provides credits to eligible individuals via a specialised debit card that can be used at participating supermarkets, grocery stores or farmers’ markets.

USA

Food Subsidy Pilot Project – Open Food Network Australia

Provides food-insecure households with vouchers for food that are redeemable at participating community food enterprises (locally owned food businesses).

Victoria

Re-distribution of food

Partnerships between organisations and businesses to collect, coordinate and distribute unused produce to consumers.

CASE STUDIES OR EXAMPLES:

Koort Marrakool Program

The City of Armadale partners with local Coles and ALDI to collect, coordinate and distribute unused produce to the Indigenous community.

Western Australia

OzHarvest Food App

An app that connects local businesses and charities to facilitate donations of unused food.

Australia

Farmers Pick

Organisation that collects rejected fruit and vegetables and distributes to customers at a discounted price.

Australia

Food Access Networks – Mornington

Coordination of multiple organisations within the Mornington Peninsula Shire to collect and distribute unused food.

Victoria

Flashfood

An app that connects individuals with supermarkets or suppliers to find discounted surplus or nearing best-by-date food at discounted prices.

North America

Food Co-ops Directory – Local Harvest

Australia-wide directory of food co-ops.

Australia

Yume Food Australia

Online platform that connects organisations with unused or surplus food to buyers or redistribution.

Australia

Too Good To Go

An app connecting food stores, restaurants, bakeries and cafes with surplus, unsold food to customers at a discounted price.

Australia, Europe, North America

Food accessibility monitoring

Monitoring the cost, variety, quality and availability of foods.

CASE STUDIES OR EXAMPLES:

WA Food Access and Cost Survey

FACS monitors the cost, variety, quality and availability of foods in grocery stores.

Western Australia

Policy resources

Guides, resources and policies created to support local governments and communities.

CASE STUDIES OR EXAMPLES:

Local Governments, Public Health Planning and Food Security

A resource developed by the Food
Community project to guide Australian local governments in implementing strategies to support food security in their
jurisdiction.

Australia

Foodswell

Provides research, community conversations, communications, policy advocacy and education to support community events and programs for a fair and equitable food system.

Australia

Other Initiative Focus Areas

Select a focus area below to view more case studies or examples:

Food access & availability