Rachel Hibble, who took on several roles to deliver food aid during the pandemic, nominated in Thanks a Million campaign

The COVID-19 shutdown led to many seeking food relief for the first time. Volunteer numbers were down too – but Rachel Hibble found a way to step up.

Rachel Hibble, right, works as an engagement coordinator for food rescue charity OzHarvest, alongside Leah Sprigg, left. Picture: Dean Martin

When the coronavirus hit, Rachel Hibble’s volunteer role with OzHarvest went into overdrive.

“There was more demand for food relief due to the loss of income COVID-19 caused,” says the 27-year-old, who had been with the food relief charity for less than a year before the pandemic.

“A lot of people were seeking food relief for the first time. We were working some pretty long hours but it was a privilege to work for a charity that, while the world was falling apart, could really make a difference in people’s lives.”

Ms Hibble has been nominated in News Corp and Woolworths’ Thanks A Million campaign for her ability to take on several roles at short notice.

“I joke that my role is now like a licorice allsorts because it’s a little bit of everything,” she said with a laugh.

“When COVID-19 hit … (I) jumped into logistics co-ordination and started organising the pick up and drop off of the food rescue runs.”

Despite losing almost all of its volunteer workforce during the lockdown, OzHarvest delivered an extra 30,000 cooked meals between March and August.

Those left behind, like Hibble and Sprigg, had to step up and were even on call on the weekend to collect food left over from the weekend markets.

“In the charity sector you just have to work it out,” Hibble said. “To go home early just didn’t like an option because we understood that we needed to pull together to get through this, that the community were relying on us.

Now that Covid-19 restrictions have eased, Hibble’s role has changed again. She is working on a little fundraising again and also helping manage the vehicle fleet and the pool of volunteers.

And she wants the community to remember that just $1 equals two meals they can deliver.

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Originally published as Rachel Hibble, who took on several roles to deliver food aid during the pandemic, nominated in Thanks a Million campaign