Help Us Deliver a Food Future for Everyone

Right now, 38% of Illawarra and Shoalhaven households are struggling to put food on the table.

These are families in our neighbourhood; skipping meals, choosing cheaper, less nutritious options, and feeling the pressure of rising living costs, fuel prices and everyday bills.

At the same time, good food is being wasted because our system isn’t set up to get it where it’s needed most.

This isn’t a supply problem. It’s a system problem. And we can fix it — together.

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✅ The Solution Is Ready

We’re launching the Illawarra Regional Food Hub, a practical, ready-to-go solution that will:

• Rescue surplus food and turn it into nutritious meals

• Improve access to food for families doing it tough

• Reduce food waste across the region

• Create a smarter, more connected local food system

The plan is built. Partners are on board. The impact will be lasting.

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We Need You

We urgently need to raise $137,000 to launch Stage 1 of the project, to open by the end of October 2026.

This funding will immediately fund essential infrastructure:

• Premises

• Refrigerated Van

• Forklift

• Cool & freezer rooms

• Shelving, benches, pallet racking

• Electricity, fuel

Every week matters. Every dollar brings us closer.

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Why It Matters

Without action:

• Families will continue to go without

• Community services will remain stretched

• Tonnes of food will keep going to waste

With this Hub:

• More households access healthy, affordable food

• Communities become stronger and more connected

• We create a long-term, sustainable solution. Not just a temporary fix

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♻️ Be Part of the Solution

This is a rare opportunity to build something that will benefit the Illawarra for years to come.

Donate - see our suggested tiers

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Help us launch the Illawarra Regional Food Hub and make sure no one in our community goes hungry. Donate today!

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Donation Tiers

$50: Kickstart the Setup

Helps cover essential small-scale infrastructure needs from crates and tubs to basic handling tools that get the Food Hub up and running.

$100: Build the Backbone

Supports the essential groundwork of the Food Hub; helping establish the systems and basic setup needed to receive and handle food.

$250: Equip the Space

Helps fund foundational infrastructure like shelving, bins and handling equipment to safely store and organise incoming food.

$500: Install Core Infrastructure

Contributes directly to critical infrastructure such as chilled and frozen storage, enabling the Hub to operate effectively from day one.

Eligible for Foundational Investor inclusions: digital badge, name HCA’s Annual Report, exclusive invitation to Hub opening event.

$1,000: Build the Backbone

Supports key operational infrastructure including fit-out, systems and equipment — ensuring the Food Hub is ready to function at scale.

Eligible for Foundational Investors inclusions: digital badge, name displayed on premises, name/logo displayed on website, name HCA’s Annual Report, exclusive invitation to Hub opening event.

$2,500+: Community Champion

Plays a vital role in bringing the Illawarra Regional Food Hub to life by funding the core infrastructure that makes the entire operation possible.

Eligible for Foundational Investors inclusions: digital badge, name displayed on premises, name/logo displayed on website, name/logo displayed in Hub eDMs, name HCA’s Annual Report, exclusive invitation to Hub opening event.

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⬇️ Our Foundational Partners

Healthy Cities Australia have been working with multiple foundation partners to explore the establishment of a Regional Food Hub to provide a centralised means of greater food storage, sorting, transport and logistics to streamline and scale the distribution of food across the region.

Our Foundational Partners include:

• Anglicare

• Assist Shellharbour

• Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce

• Lifeline South Coast

• OzHarvest

• SecondBite

• Unanderra/Figtree Community Centre

• Vinnies

• Warrawong Residents Forum

• Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services

• Women Illawarra

Are you a business or food relief charity and want to get more involved? Enquire here.