Community Comes Together in a String of ASRC Food Drives

When the ASRC Food Drive in Coburg happened to fall on the same day as the iconic Reclink Community Cup, one of our supporters didn’t wait to be asked. They organised an ASRC donation bin right at the footy, and by the end of the day two Melbourne institutions were quietly working toward the same goal.

That’s the spirit that ran through ASRC Food Drives this winter. Every month, around 1,000 people seeking asylum rely on the ASRC Foodbanks at our centres in Footscray and Dandenong for nutritious, culturally familiar staples. This winter, across St Kilda, Coburg and Dandenong, our community turned out in force, not just to drop off donations, but to hear about our work and learn about our campaign for work and study rights for people seeking asylum.

St Kilda kicked things off with collection of toiletries, donating 1,654 items worth more than $5,500. Monique Ryan MP (Kooyong) and Steph Hodgins-May (Senator for Victoria) came by to lend their support.

Coburg saw the community fill our shelves with pantry staples like coffee, tea, biscuits, spreads and sauces, worth more than $7,300. Ged Kearney MP (Cooper), Rose Iser (Moonee Valley Mayor), councillors from Merri-bek and Whittlesea, and Travis Lovett (Former Deputy Chair, Commissioner – Yoorrook Justice Commission, and Executive Director, Centre for Truth Telling and Dialogue – University of Melbourne) also turned out too

Dandenong closed out the season with the ASRC Dandenong annual Winter Food Drive. Braving the wind, a steady stream of cars and generous donors filled 65 crates with 2,820 items worth $12,000. Phillip Danh (Deputy Mayor of Dandenong), Stefan Koomen (Mayor of Casey) and Brett Owen (Mayor of Cardinia) all attended with their own donations.

But these Food Drives were about more than filling shopping trolleys. In an increasingly online and fractured world, supporters told us how much they valued making a tangible, in-person contribution and having a real conversation while they did it. There was a strong appetite to bring these drives to more communities across Melbourne.

Attendees were also invited to sign a petition calling on Minister Burke to allow work and study rights for people seeking asylum, a simple change that would let people participate, contribute and strengthen the communities they now call home. Many took home stickers, flyers and posters, some grabbing bundles to share within their own networks and extending the campaign’s reach well beyond the day itself.

Most of us know what it’s like to go through hard times, and how important that first opportunity is for getting back on your feet. Right now, many people who have fled persecution and found safety in Australia are denied the chance to work or study for years while their visa decision is pending, leaving them unable to afford even the basics for themselves and their families. Often, work is also how we build identity, dignity and belonging, which is perhaps why support for the right to work and study cuts across the political spectrum. 

Thank you to everyone who donated, showed up and spoke up this winter. Together, we’re showing that community, compassion and love are stronger than fear.