Things we learnt

Just before Christmas, we were able to donate more than 40kg of food, household goods and toiletries to Foodbank Western Australia, which would in turn be given to people in need at Christmas. Pretty amazing feeling. We met their amazing staff, most of whom are volunteers. We also met the people who collect food from Foodbank to distribute to a variety of people who, for whatever reason, cannot put enough food on their table.

A very humbling experience.

We now know that Foodbank does not just provide food for charity organisations, but also for school breakfasts in areas where children go to school hungry. They also provide education on healthy food choices and are a rehabilitation facility for female prisoners and an employment option for people with disabilities. Amazing work.

We were able to learn a lot about the donation process and it gave us some insights about how to go forward.There were a lot of pallets of food, but they were all the same. Big pallets of flour, of tinned fruit, bags of potato chips. All of this is helpful, but what is needed is complete meals (such as tinned soups, braised steak and onions), foods high in protein (meats, chickpeas, legumes, baked beans) and generally more healthy options. There is also a lack of variety in what is donated, and there is a serious lack of toiletry items - soap, washing powder, dishwashing liquid and the like. We donated nappies, baby formula and some baby food - these are also rarely given and desperately needed. We donated flour last year, thinking that people could find multiple uses for it - what we didn't think is that many of the people receiving these donations do not have kitchens or may not have the skills to bake bread or pasta. We now know the importance of ring pulls on cans, as the homeless may not have can openers handy.

So this year, we started off by buying a can of chunky soup/stew, fitting the brief of protein and a complete meal.We would like this year to be bigger and better than the last. It is amazing to us to have so many people come on board, to have been invited to talk about the project on ABC radio in Perth and to have inspired others to take up the challenge.

It doesn't matter if you buy a can a week, a can a month, or even one this year. A single item - that may only cost you an extra dollar in your weekly shop - will actually make a difference in a stranger's life. If you decide to join us on this journey, let us know what you buy every week on our Facebook page. Tell your friends, your family, get a co-op going at work. Let's make this a community effort and make a change for the better