Items filtered by date: October 2025

We're excited FoodShare has been named one of three finalists for Border Trust's Give500 Pitch Night, happening on Thursday 13 November.

Our project — The Good Egg Project: Laid by FoodShare — is one of three inspiring local initiatives in the running for the Give500 grant, alongside:
- Junction Support Services – Windbreak3690
- The Bhutanese and Multicultural Community Farms Inc – Powering Food Security and Social Cohesion

On the night, Give500 donors will decide which project receives the $20,000 grant to help bring their idea to life, with the two runners-up each receiving $5,000.

About The Good Egg Project

FoodShare is working to address the growing issue of food insecurity across North-East Victoria and Southern NSW. Rising living costs, natural disasters, and limited access to affordable, nutritious food have left many local households struggling to put meals on the table. In the past year alone, more than 600 families have accessed our Community Pantry each month, with demand for emergency food hampers over the Christmas period increasing by 65%.

While we already rescue and redistribute almost a million kilograms of food each year, fresh produce — especially protein-rich, nutrient-dense items like eggs — remains in short supply. Eggs are a culturally inclusive, versatile, and vital source of nutrition, yet rising costs and limited donations mean many families go without this everyday staple.

That’s where The Good Egg Project comes in. Working in partnership with Wolki Farm, the project will establish a sustainable, small-scale egg production system to supply fresh eggs directly to our Community Pantry and other food relief programs. Beyond food production, it’s also about education and community connection — offering opportunities to learn about sustainability, permaculture, animal care, and local food systems.

By producing fresh, locally sourced eggs through sustainable farming practices, this project will help build resilience across our regional food network, empower communities, and reduce reliance on distant supply chains.

Because in the end, this project isn’t just about eggs — it’s about strengthening the systems and partnerships that feed our community, now and into the future.

We’re incredibly proud to be part of Border Trust’s Give500 initiative, which brings together local people to support local change. It’s a celebration of generosity, innovation, and the belief that small contributions can make a big difference.

FoodShare is proud to announce the expansion of its food rescue and relief operations into Wagga Wagga, thanks to funding from the NSW Government through the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The three-year Feed More, Waste Less project is increasing FoodShare’s capacity to rescue surplus food from across Southern NSW and redirect it to communities in need. Over the past 12 months, FoodShare has successfully rescued 200,000 kilograms of good quality food from across Southern NSW that would have otherwise gone to landfill. Around 7% of these donations have come from new partners including Riverina Dairy, Greenstreat Albury, and the new Coles store in Thurgoona, equating to an additional 3,500 kilograms of food per week – an achievement that already surpasses 116% of the project’s three-year target.

The rescued food is redistributed to a growing network of food relief organisations, helping to provide vital support for people experiencing food insecurity while also reducing environmental waste.

“Expanding our operations into Wagga is a vital step in ensuring more regional communities have access to nutritious food when they need it most,” said Katrina Pawley CEO Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare. “With the support of the NSW Government and our local partners, we’re not only helping families put food on the table, but also preventing nutritious food from going to waste. This project is proof of what can be achieved when government, business and community come together to create positive change.”

The expansion into Wagga marks a major milestone for FoodShare. Local partnerships with agencies, including Carevan Wagga and St Vincent de Paul, are central to delivering food relief directly to individuals and families in need. These collaborations ensure that rescued food reaches the community quickly and efficiently, while also strengthening the local support network.

The Independent Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, congratulated FoodShare and its partners for the innovative expansion into Wagga.

“Sadly, food security – or the lack of it – is a crippling problem for too many local people who face endless worries about how to put food on the table,” he said.

“The introduction of FoodShare to our community will help to ease the burden of many struggling families by providing nutritious and safe meals and that the same time, reducing the wastage of food that can be used to make a real difference to those in need.

“Congratulations to FoodShare and their local community partners for taking a lead on this critical issue, and thank you to the NSW Government for supporting this excellent program.

“The opportunity to rescue more food is enabling us to support more people experiencing food insecurity, particularly in regional areas that have previously missed out on our services. At the same time, this initiative ensures good food is not wasted, delivering a significant positive impact on both our community and the environment.” said Ms Pawley

Wagga Carevan volunteers currently produce 550–600 meals per week, which are distributed locally to support those struggling with food insecurity and the ever-increasing cost of living.

“Our collaboration with FoodShare will allow us to produce an extra 300 meals per month. The quality of the produce sourced from FoodShare is outstanding, allowing us to continue to provide delicious and nutritious meals to those needing a hand up. The variety of meat also enables us to provide a wider variety of meals.” Wendy Fritsch, Carevan Wagga.

This expansion has been made possible with additional food donations from new local partnerships. Jackson McGrath, Founder and CEO of Greenstreat said "We're proud to support initiatives like this that make a real difference in the community. Supplying fresh produce is just one way we can give back and help ensure everyone has access to nutritious food."

The NSW EPA Food Rescue Grant is funding resources over three years to expand food rescue and relief efforts across Southern NSW. By identifying new suppliers – including supermarkets, farms and food manufacturers – FoodShare is diverting quality food from landfill and placing it into the hands of people who are experiencing food insecurity, who are often forced to choose between buying food, paying rent and covering other essential bills.

NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Executive Director of Programs & Innovation, Alexandra Geddes, said the $438,100 grant awarded to Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare is part of a broader effort to help more organisations and charities fight food waste.

“NSW generates around 1.7 million tonnes of food waste per year and retail, hospitality and institutions like schools, hospitals and aged care facilities, are responsible for around 37 percent of this waste,” Ms Geddes said.

“We want more good food to be rescued and shared with people who need it, not wasted by ending up in landfill.”

The Feed More, Waste Less project demonstrates the power of partnerships – between government, businesses, farmers, and community organisations – to tackle both food insecurity and food waste across Southern NSW.

FoodShare’s Community Partners providing food relief services to the Wagga community are listed below. 

ENDS