Erskineville OSHC Food Bank Journey

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

In January 2022, Joel and his team at Erskineville OSHC took a close look at their connections to local communities as part of their quality improvement process. They wanted to do more, so they engaged the children in discussions about how they could make a difference. Combining their love of cooking with a desire to help those less fortunate, they partnered with Newtown Anglican Church (NEAC) Food Bank. Now, over two years and hundreds of meals later, the children are still cooking weekly for those who need it most.

A weekly ritual of giving

Every week, the children go through the kitchen, assessing the food on hand to minimise wastage. Then, they brainstorm new and creative recipes and get cooking. Support from our families and local businesses has been incredible, with donations of plastic containers, cooking utensils, ingredients, and even cherished family recipes. Once the meals are prepared and frozen, the children write kind words and messages on the containers. Each Wednesday, they walk down to the church, just a few blocks away, to deliver their homemade meals to the food bank.