The Rock Family & Community Support Inc.

Founded in 2001, Foodlink, operated by The Rock Family and Community Support Inc., helps hundreds of families each month. Assisting families and individuals, the team at Foodlink works hard to ensure that no one in their community goes hungry. They help these families and individuals by providing essential food parcels and support to those in need, as they state,

“Our mission and aim are to provide care for families, youth, or anyone who is under financial pressure from daily living in the Redlands area and beyond.”

Supported by The Rock Christian Church, local donations, and as a Foodbank Member Charity, Foodlink operates with compassion, providing nourishment to all, regardless of circumstance.

“No prerequisites, no barriers. Our doors are open wide, embracing everyone seeking support, without conditions or strict requirements.”

With dedication and heart, they assemble a minimum of 50 parcels of essential goods each week, serving as a lifeline to those in need. Lucy, Foodlink Manager explained:

“One week’s busier than the other with the pension week. We do emergency relief parcels as well… we have helped a lot of people.” – Lucy

Open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am to 2pm, hampers are ordered online and are collected at the Foodlink centre. Priced at $50, these large hampers include many essential groceries including protein, fruit and vegetables, bread, cereals, pasta and sauces. The variety and quantity of each hamper is impressive. Foodlink recognises that people’s dietary preferences and restrictions vary. To overcome this obstacle, they’ve implemented a compassionate system that allows people to select their preferred foods from a regularly updated list.

Foodlink’s outreach extends to young families, offering vital support, especially during this cost-of-living crisis. Rachel*, a grateful mother of five, shared that: “(The hamper) will last us about a week for a family of five. The fruit and veg, I don’t have to get anything else from anywhere else. The bread, I get enough for us, and I give some to my grandfather who can’t drive and my mum as well.” – Rachel*

Her heartfelt gratitude echoes the impact of Foodlink’s efforts and displays the profound impact the centre is having on the Redland community.

Rachel’s testimony also highlights the importance of addressing both immediate needs and nurturing a supportive community among those in need. Many who are faced with choosing between paying a bill or food can find relief and comfort in knowing centres like Foodlink exist, as Lucy explained, “There are a lot of young families that once they come in and once, they see that parcel, they just start to cry. Because they’ve got nothing, no food. Especially people with children. We see, people coming in and they’re just blown away.”

With Foodbank’s assistance, Foodlink can access a diverse range of essential items, enabling them to tailor their hampers to meet the specific needs of individuals and families in their community “We really appreciate Foodbank.” – Lucy

As the demand for their services grows, Foodbank Queensland calls upon the community to join the fight against hunger. Through regular giving and support, together, we can ensure no one in Queensland goes without a meal.

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.