Community Partner Story – Vibe Care Pantry

Providing vital relief to Coastal Communities. 

For more than a decade, Vibe Care Pantry has stood as a vital lifeline for families on the Gold Coast, providing food and essentials to those in need. Their three locations on the Gold Coast; Palm Beach, Tweed Heads and Burleigh provide discounted groceries up to 70% off; with fruit, vegetables and bread offered at no cost. 

Foodbank Queensland is the main supplier to all three Vibe Care Food Outlets, servicing up to 3,000 families every week with groceries including meat, canned goods, bakery items and healthy snacks. 

Director of Vibe Care, David shares that providing food supplies at a low cost, allows the local community to spend their money on essentials including rising rents, bills and medical costs.  

“We understand how difficult it can be when families struggle to afford basic necessities. We’re no longer just for people who are on the verge of homelessness or facing disadvantage; we’re here for everyday people.”

“Foodbank Queensland is what helps make all of this happen. Foodbank Queensland is the resource, it’s the tools. It provides us with the food to be able to facilitate this service.” 

People from all walks of life rely on the pantry, and in the past two years, the demographic has shifted as more young families move to the area and seek assistance. David explained, “Every day we have people coming in, with tears of gratitude for what we’re doing to help them with food.”  

“They often say that without this service they don’t know where they’d be.”  

The team working at Vibe Care are a mix of volunteers from the local community, and those who are a part of Victory House, a residential rehabilitation facility on the Gold Coast. Their partnership with Vibe Care supports men recovering from addiction and substance abuse, helping them reconnect with their local community.  

Committed to community outreach, Vibe Care began at a single location and quickly expanded to three much-needed outlets. Commencing operations in Tweed Heads, the need for food in the community far outweighed what the storefront could handle. With a dedicated group of volunteers, David and his wife Louise opened food outlets in Palm Beach and Burleigh Heads. David used to drive the truck to and from the Foodbank Distribution Centre in Brisbane to collect orders for the outlet stores. Now, his son Logan makes the same trip, stocking up on much-needed food and groceries. 

The food that Logan collects from Foodbank Queensland would not be available if it weren’t for our incredible donors. Dave has a heartfelt message for those who generously donate to Foodbank Queensland, “What you are doing is making more of a difference and impact on a family and each life so much more than you even realise. We love the heart behind Foodbank Queensland, and that is you.” 

If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver.