Michelle Blau’s Post

Ok, let’s consider the results come from a Kiwibank-commissioned survey (n=1,046 nationally representative respondents) in New Zealand 18 years of age and over, conducted between the 24th to the 26th of May 2024 by Talbot Mills Research. It found: • 30% of Kiwi would not have enough money in their accounts to cover an unexpected bill of $500 without borrowing, selling something, or putting it on a credit card. • 39% of savers are managing to save $100 a month or less. • Almost two thirds of Kiwi (63%) are struggling to put money aside for saving with high cost of living cited as the main barrier (73%). • 37% of Kiwi say they don’t have money set aside to cover any unexpected expenses. • 34% of Kiwi say they feel like they are hit with an unexpected expense at least once a month. • 59% of Kiwi have a monthly budget in place. • 41% of Kiwi regularly put money aside while 38% put money aside from time to time. Anyone else worried by this data?

It’s not right that people are going hungry in a country that produces enough to feed 40 million people and wastes 1/3 of the food it produces. As Michelle Blau puts it, "1/3 of Kiwis have less than $500 in savings, making many of us one school camp, winter sport, or flat tyre away from a food parcel." Food rescue is one of the most cost-effective ways to deliver food relief where it's needed. Now is the time for the Government to bridge the gap between what it relies on food rescue organisations to do and what it resources. Our sector needs sustainable funding to ensure quality surplus food gets where it belongs: Feeding the growing number of people who need it, not wasting in landfill.

The Felix Project found in a recent survey that almost nine in 10 community organisations they support are concerned about increasing demand this year in 2024. The CEO of the charity Charlotte Hill OBE FRSA CCMI said, “These results really demonstrate the immense amount of pressure being felt by so many of those charities working on the frontline to feed people facing food insecurity and hunger. It’s clear, too, that many people in London are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 170,000 working people in London had to turn to a food support service for the first-time last year to ensure they could feed their children. Each week we send food to over 1,000 organisations and all of them want more food. To have so many respond to our survey and say they worried about an increase in demand shows how much The Felix Project has to do this year.” #costoflivingcrisis #thefelixproject #charity

Collective voices call out the Victorian Government, 48 frontline charities demand systemic action on food security! OzHarvest has submitted an open letter to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Food Security, supported by 47 charity partners that collectively feed over 62,000 Victorians every month. The problem of food insecurity is immense and growing - addressing it requires systemic changes, it cannot be solved with more food relief alone. Collectively, we are calling on the Victorian Government to address food insecurity at its core by: 1. Reducing poverty and inequality  2. Improving housing and access  3. Ensuring food is affordable While funding for food relief will always be necessary to maintain an essential service for those experiencing food insecurity, more must be done. OzHarvest is committed to ensuring that food reaches those in need, but we need government support to address the root causes of this issue – it’s time for meaningful change. #SDG2 #endhunger #foodsecurity #charity   Parliament of Victoria, Trung Luu, Ryan Batchelor MP Countrywide Community Missions Victoria Inc, CROSSWAY LIFECARE LTD, Hester Hornbrook Academy, Laverton Community Centre, Melbourne City Mission (MCM), Mind Australia, North Richmond Community Health, Nourishing Neighbours, Open Table, Southern Peninsula Community Support Inc, St Vincent de Paul Society Australia, Uniting, Uniting Vic.Tas,

Excited to share a policy brief examining relationships between a food bank and local food producers. The Policy Brief was published by the Center for Poverty and Inequality at UC Davis based on research I conducted with Dr. Catherine Brinkley. Our takeaways are: * Locally produced food can be an important source of food for food banks. * Relying on the goodwill of donors to contribute to charitable food programs is an insufficient response to poverty and food insecurity. * Stronger policy is needed to ensure that access to food is recognized as a right rather than relying on charity to address poverty and hunger. https://lnkd.in/gTfV-TWW

The Foodbank Hunger Report 2024 has been released today, it highlights the impact of food insecurity in Australia and the need for accessible food relief. The report reveals that 3.4 million Australians faced food insecurity in the past year, with food charities experiencing historically high demand.   After working with Foodbank for many years we realised that the food relief provided depended on what was available on any given day. To help those receiving food relief make a great-tasting, nutritious meal no matter what ingredients they received, we developed the first-ever custom product for Foodbank Australia: MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole.   Since its creation in 2021, we’ve donated more than 4 million meals – on average helping to make more than 1.2 million meals every year. Together with Foodbank we’re exploring the potential for more ways to support those affected by food insecurity. Learn more about the Foodbank Hunger Report 2024 at: https://lnkd.in/geVhxNGE

Nestlé's commitment to supporting Foodbank and addressing food insecurity is truly commendable. The development of the MAGGI Hearty One Pot Casserole as a custom product for Foodbank Australia is a significant step in providing nutritious and great-tasting meals to those in need, regardless of the available ingredients. This initiative has contributed to the donation of more than 4 million meals, averaging over 1.2 million meals every year, making a substantial impact on alleviating hunger. Our organization's ongoing commitment to donate a minimum of $2 million in products to Foodbank Australia over the next two months, with $500,000 provided each fortnight, further demonstrates the company's dedication to supporting communities facing #food #insecurity. The continuous efforts of Nestlé and its brands to develop unique partnerships and products for Foodbank, as well as the substantial donations made to address food insecurity, reflect our company's significant contribution to ending #worldhunger. These initiatives align with our core values and commitment to creating shared value, emphasizing the importance of #sustainable solutions and #collaborative efforts to combat food insecurity. Read more about our efforts below: ->https://lnkd.in/gRh2sFv6 ->https://lnkd.in/gqVGYbdv... ->https://lnkd.in/gTVtNFVs... ->https://lnkd.in/gKJEEwZu...

Did you know that 22.7% of New Brunswick families struggle to put food on the table? It's a staggering reality, but together, we can make a difference. At Greener Village, our mission is clear: to provide food, clothing, and opportunities for self-sufficiency to those in need. But we're not stopping there. We're excited to unveil our game-changing solution: the Perishable Food Rescue Centre. This revolutionary project will reclaim food and revolutionize food security in Atlantic Canada. By partnering with Food Banks Canada | Banques alimentaires Canada and Food Depot Alimentaire, we'll redistribute $4M in fresh food to over 70 food-focused charities across New Brunswick. Join us at the Food for Thought Luncheon to learn more about how you can be part of the solution. Purchase your tickets now on Eventbrite and let's create a brighter, more nourished future for all: https://lnkd.in/g9rmx3B3 #FoodForThought #FoodSecurity #FoodRescue #CommunityImpact

Georgia Main Food Group Limited is leading the charge in reducing food waste—and they’re doing it through action, not just donations. In partnership with the Immigrant Link (ILCS), Georgia Main staff recently spent a day volunteering to pack and distribute nutritious food hampers for families in need. This experience brought them face-to-face with the people and communities they’ve been supporting through their food recovery program. Since partnering with FoodMesh in 2020, Georgia Main has diverted 2.4 million kg of unsold food—equivalent to more than 4 million meals—to charitable organizations. Read all about it in our latest post on the Quirky Pear blog: https://lnkd.in/gg7QKks6 This is the kind of leadership we need to fight hunger and reduce environmental impact. By not only donating unsold food but also stepping onto the frontlines, Georgia Main is helping to build a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone. A huge thank you to ILCS for their tireless work, and to the Georgia Main team for going above and beyond! 💡 Is your business ready to take action against food waste and make a difference in your community? Contact us today to learn how we can help you waste less and feed more. #Sustainability #FoodWasteReduction #CorporateSocialResponsibility #CommunityImpact #HungerActionMonth #FoodRecovery #MetroVanLovesFood

According to the United Nations, one-third of the world’s food is wasted. In the US, food waste is 40%—enough to feed 2 billion people. Yet, a recent food mapping study concluded that 1 in 8 Pennsylvanians in our own communities struggle to secure nutritious food. To address local food waste and insecurity, Eat Share has been exploring innovative ways to redistribute food to members of our communities. From this endeavor, we have developed Food Forward Donations. Our Food Forward initiative welcomes local restaurants, caterers, farmers, grocery stores and others to donate their excess food, rather than waste it. So far in 2024, Food Forward donations have provided meals to 29 appreciative families. Donations have included leftover prepared foods from events—like sandwiches, chicken, collard greens, pulled pork, mac and cheese, baked beans, and cookies—as well as frozen hams, pot roasts, and fresh garden veggies. Contact us anytime and Eat Share volunteers will collect your donations, package them into meals, and deliver locally. Learn more at eatshare.org/foodforward #eatshare #northcentralpa #neighborshelpingneighbors #foodforwardncpa