More Queenslanders use Meals for Mums amid cost-of-living crisis

A charity that helps provide meals for mums doing it tough has seen a three-fold increase in demand in just three years, with women who never expected to need the service now seeking help.

Proud young mum Brittney-Lee Riley is “not the type of person to take handouts” but soaring costs of living have forced her to accept free meals in order to survive.

Ms Riley is one of a growing number of Queenslanders accessing Meals for Mums – a service for which demand has tripled in just two years.

“It’s been really tough,” said the 19-year-old, who is also battling cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening condition which damages the lungs and digestive system.

“I am a very strong, independent woman – that’s how my dad raised me, to work myself and pay for everything – but with inflation and the ridiculous cost of living nowadays, I’ve had to accept help.”

New mum Brittney-Lee Riley 19, with baby Miles, says rising costs have put groceries out of reach. Picture: Lachie Millard

Ms Riley, of Caboolture, was referred to Meals for Mums, run by the White Cloud Foundation, following the birth of her son Miles-Lee on January 20 this year.

Foundation chair Professor Adam Scott said the service was working around the clock to help desperate women, many of whom had become homeless.

“This is the worst we’ve ever seen it, and there’s no promise of things improving,” Prof Scott said.

Early figures for 2024 paint a similarly drastic picture to 2023 when the foundation delivered almost 40,000 meals to 2297 women.

This was a sharp increase on 2021 when fewer than 13,000 meals were given to 794 women.

Women must be referred to the service by doctors, midwives, social workers or other health professionals.

Meals for Mums Brisbane and Gold Coast co-ordinator Joanne DeMichele said the stories of hardship were harrowing.

“We are having to get more and more meals delivered to hospitals and other facilities for mothers to collect as they don’t have a permanent address,” Ms DeMichele said.

“They’re moving from motel rooms to couches to shelters.”

Ms Riley is thankful for the support of her partner Zac Feeney, a 20-year-old caravan technician, but described the costs of living as “ridiculous”.

“Back in the day you’d spend $200 and you’d have everything you need, but now the same things cost over $400 and the only ones profiting are the big supermarkets,” she said.

Ms Riley, who previously worked at McDonald’s, said the young family could barely afford essentials, let alone her cystic fibrosis medications.

However, Miles-Lee was the priority.

“We chose his name because of the amount of miles we’d go to protect him.”

Bribie Island teacher Kaitlin Ferguson was referred to Meals for Mums while suffering post-partum anxiety.

Brittney-Lee and Miles at home at Caboolture. Picture Lachie Millard

Ms Ferguson, 28, said she began “catastrophising”, fearing her child Oliver, now 10 months, would roll off the change mat or drown in the bath.

“I started to feel like I couldn’t cope being a parent, I hated being at home but had begun having panic attacks when driving which made leaving the house feel impossible,” she said.

“I didn’t want to see friends because I felt like a failure and I kept lashing out at my husband.”

Ms Ferguson began binge eating and her physical and mental health declined significantly until a child health nurse intervened.

Prof Scott said all medical and allied healthcare professionals could refer women to Meals for Mums via whitecloudfoundation.org

White Cloud’s free Tele-Mental Health Service was available to all Queenslanders, with no referral required, on 07 3155 3456.

White Cloud receives partial funding of around 25 per cent from the State Government but relies heavily on corporate sponsorships and events fundraising.