Your go-to resource for understanding and navigating our region’s food rescue and relief sector. Whether you are part of a food relief organisation, a volunteer, a donor, or simply interested in supporting food security, this guide is designed to provide clear and practical information tailored to your needs.

About the Guide

This guide was developed as part of the Regional Food Donation Coordinator pilot, generously funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Following the successful pilot in 2022, we secured EPA funding to continue the Regional Food Coordinator position for the next three years. The guide is informed by the expertise and experiences of the Food Relief and Rescue Working Group, ensuring it remains a valuable and relevant resource for the sector.

The Food Rescue & Relief Landscape in the Illawarra

The Illawarra has a strong and collaborative food rescue and relief sector that plays a vital role in redistributing surplus food to those in need. The sector includes: 

• Food donors (including major supermarkets and local businesses) 

• Three national food rescue organisations 

• Over 32 food relief agencies 

• Dedicated volunteers who make it all possible 

This collective effort significantly reduces food waste while ensuring that more people have access to nutritious food. Despite limited resources, the impact of this sector is immense. 

Join our Quarterly Food Rescue & Relief Working Group

Food Fairness Illawarra hosts bi-monthly meetings to bring together stakeholders from the food relief and rescue sector. These meetings foster collaboration, share knowledge, and coordinate efforts to address food insecurity. To join the quarterly meetings, email foodfairness@healthycities.org.au. 

It’s wonderful to have an open forum to speak about the challenges, trends and wins we are all having.

Olivia Penner-Dilworth, OzHarvest

Join the Illawarra Food Donations WhatsApp Group 

To support your vital work, we’ve created the Illawarra Food Donations WhatsApp group – a simple tool to strengthen the connection between hospitality/food retail businesses and our local food relief sector. 

Here’s how the group works: 

• Local businesses post surplus food opportunities. 

• You respond to coordinate collection and distribution. 

• Together, we reduce waste and feed more people in need. 

This group is designed to streamline communication, enabling us all to maximize the impact of food rescue in the Illawarra region. 

Food insecurity is such a large issue within our community it needs a coordinated approach to prevent any resources being wasted.

Megan Arthur, Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Service

Create or Update your Fair Food Directory Listing

Our Fair Food Directory is the go-to guide for all things sustainable, local and equitable food in the region, and includes the most thorough guide to food relief services in the Illawarra. Keeping this directory updated ensures: 

• Gaps in service are identified and addressed 

• Coordination and collaboration between organisations 

• Efficient resource allocation 

• Easier access to food relief services for those in need 

Relevant categories for the food relief and food rescue stakeholders include:

Use our step-by-step guide to create or update your directory listing to keep the Fair Food Directory current and accurate.

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Email Templates And Food Donation Guides

To help your organisation grow its impact, we have developed an email templates to assist with food donor outreach along with various donation guides for your information.

Email Templates:

Food Donation Guides:

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