Free Food Hampers Brisbane (2024)

If you have found this resource, you probably need a bit of a hand and you should know that you are definitely not alone. This article discusses Foodbank Locations in Brisbane and other places for reduced-cost food and free food hampers in Brisbane.

Did you know that more than 100,000 people in Queensland rely on the help of Foodbank to provide them with food relief? 50,000 children make up this massive number, and the number is growing. You might think it is only the homeless or jobless that use Foodbank, but it is every day battling Australian families struggling to put food on the table.

Free food hampers near me

In addition to more affordable shopping options, several places across Brisbane provide ongoing support for families by providing free food hampers, free shopping options and even places where you can get reduced personal care items and support around things like rental property advice, legal matters and other community supports.

While this article focuses mainly on food relief, if you need help with other matters, please check what else the community centres (linked to below) offer.

Some things to note before you ring or visit these places

Check their conditions first. Many food banks require their customer to live in the local area. A few also require pension or health care cards (but most don’t).
Some places will only provide non-perishable items that could help, but others will have perishable items as well.
Check their opening hours. Some are open Monday to Friday, while others are only open for one day of the week or limited hours of the day.
Ensure a referral is not required (or obtain a referral). We have only included places that were okay with self-referral, but always check this hasn’t changed before you visit.
Some bigger places will have trolleys to make it easier with kids, but it is worth checking first.
Some belong to a wider organisation operating throughout Australia, like St Vincent De Paul, and others are run by small groups of volunteers.
Some of these places may also prepare food and provide a meal service or have a food kitchen which might be helpful for those with accessibility issues.
Demand for food can change, so it is worth ringing places first to check their capacity, see how they work and distribute their food.

Food Hampers North Brisbane

Bardon. Communify Qld, North West Community Hub, 180 Jubilee Terrace, Bardon. This charity provides food parcels of fresh fruit, vegetables and bread, as well as long-life food. Must be located in North or Inner North Brisbane and have a health care card or pension card. Can self-refer. http://communify.org.au
Bellara. Oz Harvest, Bribie Island & District Neighbourhood Centre, 50 Verdoni Street, Bellara. Provides material aid through free food parcels, mainly fresh produce, once a week for people in need. Free bread is also on offer. Need to be located nearby. Can self-refer. (07) 3408 8440
Bald Hills. Harvest Food Assist, 53 Telegraph Road, Bald Hills. Emergency relief. Aid includes food parcels consisting of non-perishable items. (07) 3261 4555
Bald Hills. The Lakes Anglican Church, 34 Strathpine Road, Bald Hills. Emergency Relief: Food Pantry. Aid includes non-perishable food parcels, toiletries and food vouchers.http://www.thelakesanglican.org.au
Bowen Hills. Communify Qld, Jeays Street Community Centre, 12 Jeays Street, Bowen Hills. Community market. A community market offering free fruit & vegetables. (07) 3308 4500
Chermside. Chermside Anglican Welfare Ministries, 501 Hamilton Road, Chermside. Parish Pantry and Soup Kitchen. Food parcels, limited fresh fruit and vegetables, bread. Can self-refer. http://www.allsaintschermside.org.au
Dakabin. ADRA Pine Rivers Community Centre. Food Pantry. Provides material aid in the form of food parcels for individuals and families experiencing disadvantage, including people from the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community. Volunteer opportunities are available. http://www.adra.org.au/project/adra-community-care-centre-pine-rivers
Deception Bay. St Joseph’s Conference, St Vincent De Paul Society, Deception Bay. Emergency Relief. Aid includes food relief parcels. Can self-refer. (07) 3203 0879
Deception Bay. Deception Bay Baptist Church, 26 Silver Street, Deception Bay. Food parcels. Need to live locally. Can self-refer. http://www.dbaybap.com
Deception Bay. Lighthouse Centre Deception Bay, 8 summer Street, Deception Bay. This charity provides low cost food items for the community. Can self-refer. https://www.facebook.com/p/Lighthouse-Centre-Deception-Bay-100070351487938/
Everton Park. Nexus Care Everton Park, 151 Flockton Street, Everton Park. Fresh Start Food Program. http://www.nexuscare.com.au/food-parcels
Kallangur. Encircle Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, 51 Marsden Road, Kallangur. Food Parcels. Can self-refer. http://www.encircle.org.au
Kallangur. Moreton Bay Community Matters, Rivers Church, 120 Ann Street, Kallangur. Community Food Bank. Food parcels for individuals and families experiencing disadvantage. Can self-refer. http://www.riverschurch.com/ministries/moreton-bay-community-matters
Lawnton. The Salvation Army Pine Rivers Corps, 27-29 Lawnton Pocket Road, Lawnton. Emergency Relief. Aid includes food parcels, food vouchers, clothing and financial assistance with utility bills. To use this service, you must live in Lawnton, Murrumba Downs and Strathpine local areas. Can self-refer. (07) 3285 2401
Lawnton. Encircle Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, 865 Gympie Road, Lawnton. Food Parcels. Can self-refer. http://www.encircle.org.au
Logan Central. ADRA Community Care Centre, 31 Station Road, Logan Central. Emergency relief and support for those in need. Weekly soup kitchen and food parcels available. Op shop also on site. (07) 3290 3011
Mitchelton. Picabeen Community Centre, 22 Hoben Street, Mitchelton. Material Aid. This charity provides reduced-cost healthy food parcels can self-refer. http://www.picabeen.org.au
Redcliffe. Encircle Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Lamington Drive, Redcliffe. Food Parcels. Can self-refer. http://www.encircle.org.au
Sandgate. Nexus Care Sandgate, 37 Brighton Road, Sandgate. Fresh Start Food Program. http://www.nexuscare.com.au/food-parcels
Zillmere. Zillmere Community Centre, 54 Handford Road, Zillmere. Emergency Relief. Emergency relief is available for individuals and families experiencing disadvantage, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Aid includes food parcels. To use this service you must live in Zillmere or surrounding suburbs. Can self-refer. http://www.necsg.org.au

Food Hampers South Brisbane and Ipswich

Capalaba. The Rock Family & Community Support, 6 Hook Street, Capalaba. Foodlink. Low-cost large food parcels for the local community. These parcels contain set grocery items, cleaning supplies and personal items. You can self-refer. http://facs.org.au
Carindale. Citipointe Community Care, 322 Wecker Road, Carindale. Includes low-cost groceries, free bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, and food parcels for needy families. Can self-refer. http://citipointechurch.com/marketplace
Cleveland. COOEE Indigenous Family & Community Education Centre, 69 Haggup Street, Cleveland. Many services are offered for the Indigenous community via this organisation, including food parcels. Need to be located in the Redland City area. Can self-refer. http://www.cooeeindigenouselders.com
Darra. Vietnamese Community in Australia, Queensland Chapter, 2709 Ipswich Road, Darra. Aid includes food hampers. Customers need to be located in Bellbird Park, Camira, Collingwood Park, Darra, Doolandella, Durack, Forest Lake, Gailes, Goodna, Inala, Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Oxley, Redbank Plains, Redbank, Richlands, Riverhills, Riverview, Sherwood, Sinnamon Park, Springfield, Springfield Lakes, Sumner & Wacol. Must present a current Centrelink income statement. Can self-refer. http://www.vcaqld.org.au
Durack. Citipointe Community Care, 152 Freeman Road, Durack. Includes low-cost groceries, free bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, and food parcels for needy families. Can self-refer. http://citipointechurch.com/marketplace
Eight Mile Plains. ADRA Community Centre, Eight Mile Plains. Emergency relief services are only available for people who reside in Mansfield, Wishart, Holland Park, MacGregor, Mount Gravatt, Mount Gravatt East, Upper Mount Gravatt, Eight Mile Plains, Rochedale, Rochedale South, Runcorn, Kuraby, Underwood, Slacks Creek & Sunnybank. Clients must present a current Centrelink statement, Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. Can self-refer. http://www.adra.org.au
Eagleby. The Twin Rivers Centre, 104 River Hills Road, Eagleby. Aid includes food vouchers and parcels. Need to be located in the Logan City and Beaudesert area. Can self-refer. Food Outlet open Monday – Saturday. http://www.twinrivers.org.au
Ellen Grove. Elorac Place Community Centre Food Shed, 11a Southampton Road, Ellen Grove. Discounted grocery items available. Can self-refer. https://www.wmq.org.au/youth-and-parenting-support/elorac-place-community-centre
Ellen Grove. Community Food Pantry at Forest Lake Uniting Church. Grocery and Pantry Items are available. Can self-refer. http://www.forestlakeuca.org.au
Gailes. Gailes Community House. Low-cost grocery items are available. To use this service, you must be located in Goodna, Gailes, Camira & Springfield. Can self-refer. http://www.gailescommunityhouse.com.au
Goodna. Soundpoint Youth and Community Centre. Food parcels are available including bread and veggies. Can self-refer. http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/soundpoint
Goodna. Goodna Neighbourhood House, 33 Queen Street, Goodna. Free bread. https://www.facebook.com/goodnanh/
Riverview. Queensland Youth & Families Support Services (QYFSS), 1 Scott Street, Goodna. Food relief and bread. Food parcels, must be located in the Goodna district. self-referral is fine. http://www.qyfss.org.au
Hillcrest. Lighthouse Care, 16 Central Court, Hillcrest. Lighthouse Care provides food relief to over 70,000 families in need. Through their discount grocery stores, families can get a trolley of food for $25 and save up to 70% rrp on groceries. They also provide emergency food relief to thousands of families every year. https://lighthousecare.org.au/
Loganholme. Lighthouse Care, 17-19 Monte-Khoury Drive, Loganholme. See above for what is offered here.
Manly West. Hands & Feet, Wynnum Christian Community Church, 159 Preston Road, Manly West. Their aid includes food parcels. http://www.handsandfeet.com.au
Redbank Plains. Redbank Plains Community Centre. Food relief program. Food parcels are offered and you can can self-refer. http://www.multiculturalaustralia.org.au/redbank_plains_
Salisbury. Life Communities. Emergency relief. Their aid includes food parcels. Can self-refer. http://www.lifechurch.com.au
Slacks Creek. Tribe of Judah Care Services, 101 Park Road, Slacks Creek. Offering reduced cost groceries with no instance on health care or pension cards. (07) 3290 3610
South Brisbane. Community Plus, West End Community House, 4 Norfolk Road, South Brisbane. Oz farmers harvest market. Need to be located in the Inner South. Can self-refer. A weekly farmers market provides access to food items donated by OzHarvest. http://www.communityplus.org.au
Springfield. Camira Springfield Community Centre, 389 Old Logan Road, Springfield. Free food items. Can self-refer. http://www.wccare.org.au
West End. Community Friends, 155 Boundary Street, West End. This food relief charity provides a free community dinner and food parcels for people experiencing homelessness or struggling to put food on the table. self-referral ok. http://www.communityfriends.org.au
Wynnum Food Pantry. St Pete’s Pantry, 77 Charlotte Street, Wynnum. They supply free food parcels and you can self-refer. http://www.stpeterswynnum.org/st-petes-pantry.html
Yeronga Community Plus. Yeronga Community Centre, Corner Devon & Shottery Streets, Yeronga. Bread Basket Charity. You need to be located in the inner south suburbs. Self-referral ok. Free bread is available. http://www.communityplus.org.au/yeronga-community-centre

If you are really struggling, you might also appreciate our resource about what to do if you are a Brisbane family in crisis. It includes some information about foodbank services but also other helpful services.

Foodbank Locations in Brisbane

Specific Foodbank places in Brisbane can often change, so our best recommendation is to go straight to the Foodbank Queensland Website and use their handy https://www.foodbank.org.au/find-food/ search function.

When you find places near you, click on the link and you will find that some very overtly offer food/groceries similar to a shopping centre with trollies etc., while others will have a contact us form and limited information. Don’t be deterred by this; they are here to help you or wouldn’t be on the website. Different locations will have different structures, some might be free, and some might be cheaper.

Below is a handy list of places offering cheap or free food options.

Volunteer and donate

Maybe you arrived at this resource because you want to help Foodbank with its good work. This is how you can help support Foodbank QLD.

Volunteering is a big part of the great work Foodbank does. This might involve packing, delivering, or other important roles like being a cook or packer. You could also consider looking at individual Foodbanks near you and see if they need volunteers. This generosity is not just limited to Foodbank and all the community organisations mentioned below would likely be seeking help.
You can donate money directly to community organisations or Foodbank Queensland.
You can sometimes donate food. There are some rules around food donations and what is accepted, and this is usually limited to specific times of the year. You can read more about this below when discussing Foodbank Queensland’s Christmas Drive.
Be compassionate. If you know of a local family in need and who expresses a need for help, reach out and see if you can help or show them this resource or others mentioned on this page. Compassion can go a long way.

Where does donated food come from

Ozharvest

OzHarvest is an Australian charity organization that works to rescue excess food across Australia and distribute it to those in need.

The organisation operates in several cities across Australia, including Brisbane. (If you live in NSW or another state, look to the foodbank website we provided in the beginning of the article)

In Brisbane, OzHarvest partners with a network of food donors, including supermarkets, restaurants, and cafes, to collect surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. There are strict rules around the quality of the donations so you don’t have to worry about the quality of food you might receive for your family.

Ozharvest distributes this food to charities in Australia and by working together with community groups that support vulnerable individuals and families.

Foodbank

Foodbank Queensland sources and rescues food on the largest scale, exclusively from registered food retailers, wholesalers, farmers, and manufacturers. By streamlining its distribution and delivery process and collecting food in large quantities, the organisation can provide the most food possible to their network of over 250 front-line charity members in a highly cost-effective manner.

Donations to Foodbank are usually limited to large-scale donations but sometimes Foodbank Queensland will run a Christmas Drive to provide food assistance over the Christmas season. In the past, this has been done at Retail First Shops and by requesting donations from individuals into collection cages. Usually, there is quite a bit of media attention around this.

Recent news and government support

Testament to the growing need of families across Queensland, The Queensland Government announced a round of grants to support local food charities. This is what we know.

SecondBite in Morningside will receive $491,639 to upgrade freezer infrastructure and purchase a 14-pallet truck.

Twin Rivers Community Care in Logan will receive $486,035 to expand leased space at Eagleby.

Foodbank Queensland in Morningside will receive $408,096 to purchase a 6-pallet refrigerated van and upgrade their coldroom.

OzHarvest will receive $403,565 to purchase a hybrid 6-pallet truck, hybrid service wagon, forklift, and offset rental and staff costs

FareShare Australia in Morningside will receive $360,000 for specialised equipment and staff costs.

Tony’s Community Kitchen in Toowoomba will receive $262,011 to purchase a refrigerated truck.

Fishers of Men in Logan will receive $213,408 for a new food van.

Mt Gravatt Community Centre will receive $111,305 for a new refrigerated van.

Lighthouse Centre Deception Bay will receive $104,260 to purchase a refrigeration van.

The Rock Family and Community Support Inc in Redlands will receive $79,161 for infrastructure upgrades.

Collectively, these projects are expected to save over 2,000 tonnes of food from landfill by June 2024.

Other ways to save money on groceries

If you are reading this article because you have been concerned about your grocery bill, here are some ideas to save you money.

Meal plan to reduce the amount of food you are throwing out. While fresh vegetables are ideal, sometimes frozen is cheaper and reduces food waste.
Shop seasonally. Fruit and veg in season are cheaper than fruit and vegetables out of season.
Try and buy direct from the wholesaler or grower if you can. Local markets are a good place to start.
Have a cheap night once a week where breakfast is for dinner or whatever can be rustled up from what’s on hand.
Compare the major supermarkets and shop for the specials. Aldi isn’t always cheaper, but it often is. Now, apps will let you compare all the major shopping centres like Frugl and Wiselist.
Bulk up meals with legumes.
Have a meat-free night
Invest in a slow cooker so you can buy cheaper cuts of meat
Batch cook so you can buy in bulk and save money and time by cooking one meal that makes many.
Join local Facebook groups around meal planning and budgeting, like budget mums Australia. These local, timely Facebook groups often share specials and ideas about saving money.

Food relief

Foodbank Brisbane has always known that hunger is a growing problem in this country, and more Queenslanders than ever need extra help. Increased demand for food assistance is happening for various reasons, including the cost of household living pressures and interest rate rises.

We hope we have shown that you don’t need to go hungry and that plenty of places are ready to help you and your fellow Australians. It’s okay to acknowledge you need help and reach out for a free food hamper, and we encourage you to contact the community services provided for this reason. If you know of any places not on our list, please help us to help other Brisbane families and mention it in the comments below or email us at info(@)brisbanekids.com.au.