‘Overwhelming’: Demand surges for charity as OzHarvest and Woolworths provide 100 million meals
A troubling milestone reflects the increasing number of Aussies who have found themselves “in trouble” and are looking for support.
The cost-of-living crisis has smashed Aussie households, with a charity marking more than 100 million meals delivered to those in need as “demand continues to rise”.
Over the course of a ten-year partnership between Woolworths and food rescue organisation OzHarvest, the meals were distributed through a network of more than 1500 charities across Australia.
OzHarvest driver Michael van Stom said the charity’s food relief market has “more and more people arriving every week”.
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“People are a bit desperate and I get it, it’s hard out there,” he said.
“You can see all people of shapes and sizes and socio-economic backgrounds lining up to get some food because they’re in trouble.”
More than 17.4 million meals were donated by OzHarvest and Woolworths in the last financial year alone.
Mr van Stom told news.com.au it was “slightly overwhelming” to see the joy and relief his work brings to people in need.
“You see things that are very uplifting and also things that are terribly sad. You see how desperate people are.”
“When I first started the job, one of the more senior drivers said to me: ‘Michael, it’s an amazing job, at the end of the day you feel like a combo of Santa Claus and Superman,’ and it’s true.”
OzHarvest rescues high-quality surplus food from more than 550 Woolworths supermarkets and distribution centres weekly, partnering with charities across the country for distribution.
Founder and CEO of OzHarvest Ronni Kahn said the charity’s partnership with Woolworths is needed “more than ever as demand continues to rise”.
“One hundred million meals is a huge milestone, but what really moves me is knowing that each one of those meals has helped someone who really needed it,” she said.
“For ten incredible years, the Woolworths team hasn’t just been a partner — they’ve been champions of our mission. From back dock and store managers who carefully set aside good food, through to logistics teams who make this happen every single day.”
The costs of housing and food have continued to drive the rising pressure on Aussie households, and though inflation and other cost-of-living measures have eased since peaks in 2022-23, many are still feeling the pinch.
Woolworths Group CEO Amanda Bardwell said the company is “proud” to work alongside OzHarvest in its food rescue operations.
“It’s a partnership that brings a little good to so many people,” she said.
“We know families are doing it tough right now with cost-of-living, so making sure good, fresh food gets to people who need it instead of going to waste is more important than ever.”
Originally published as ‘Overwhelming’: Demand surges for charity as OzHarvest and Woolworths provide 100 million meals
