Feeding hope

FOOD rescue organisation Liberation Larder is seeking donations of food and money to help women and children in need in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis.

“We make food boxes for a long list of women every week, so they don’t need to stand in line and feel unsafe around men with mental health issues that make up a large portion of our client base,” the charity’s president Liz Jackson said.

“Outside of the food we provide there is always a need for basics, such as towels, blankets and bed linen. We do not have clothing as other services such as Lifeline, Vinnies and the Salvation Army can adequately cover these requirements.”

Liberation Larder was founded by Buddhist nun The Venerable Honu Dawson in 2009 when she saw the need to help the growing number of homeless people in Byron Bay.

She started by making a simple meal of dahl and rice and handing it out to people who came to the rear of the Byron Community Centre once a week.

Support for the project came quickly in the form of food donations from businesses and women in the community who cooked nourishing meals in their own kitchens.

The service has grown to provide more than 600 meals a week.

More than 45,000 kilograms of edible food that would otherwise have ended up in landfill was rescued in 2024, and more than 32,000 meals were given to nearly 7000 clients.

Meals are served twice a week, with a hot breakfast, tea and coffee from 7am on Monday followed by lunch at noon consisting of a hot meal, salad and dessert plus some fresh produce to take home.

On Thursdays a breakfast snack service with fruit, pies, juice and pastries is provided from 7am, followed by another lunch service.

For more information or to donate, visit liberationlarder.org.