Nourishing Hope: Building Community Through Food

Across time, place, and cultures, food has always had the power to bring people together. It’s a universal language – a source of comfort, joy, and connection that transcends borders. Through our Foodbank and Community Kitchen programs, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) creates spaces where people seeking asylum feel supported, welcomed and empowered to make choices for themselves and their families.

ASRC operates two Foodbanks – one at our Footscray centre and another at the Refugee Resource Hub in Dandenong, along with a vibrant Community Kitchen in Footscray. One of the core values of our Foodbank and Community Kitchen program is to ensure people seeking asylum have access to culturally appropriate, nutritious food and basic groceries. Our Foodbanks are designed to resemble your local grocery store. This choice-based model allows our members to select the items they need, preserving dignity and promoting independence.

We provide both perishable foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, eggs and yoghurt, and non perishable foods such as milk, rice, tinned goods, tuna, oil and spices, as well as basic toiletries and cleaning products. These vital supplies come from the generosity of individual and community donations, food drives, and corporate partnerships. However, due to a sharp decline in donations of goods, we currently  have  to purchase many of the essential goods we provide.

Our dedicated Foodbank volunteers are there to lend a helping hand as our clients choose their weekly or fortnightly groceries. They also sort donations, pack bulk goods, organise stock and replenish shelves – from the start of the day to when the Foodbank closes, our volunteers are constantly on their feet, always ready to jump into the next job, and always with a smile on their faces.

Hear from Hannah and Glenda, our Footscray and Dandenong Foodbank volunteers, on why volunteering at the ASRC is probably one of the best decisions ever made.

And in the Community Kitchen, our volunteers prepare warm, nutritious meals  from a variety of cuisines, using recipes shared with us by our clients. These mostly vegetarian dishes reflect a diversity of cultures and are a vibrant highlight of the day. More than just meals, these shared tables create a space for conversation, connection, and community.

If you are passionate about food justice, building community, or just want to lend a hand, consider becoming part of our Foodbank and Community Kitchen team that’s creating immediate, tangible impact in people’s lives – every single day. Get in touch with us and discover how you can help nourish hope and build community.

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