Hunger lives in every community, in every postcode. In your street.

Across our state, 1 in 3 households is struggling to put food on the table.

937,235 homes with families and flatmates, empty-nesters and those who live alone.

Homes where food runs out before more money comes in. Where skipping meals to afford bills is the only option. Where sometimes there are days when there’s no food at all.

As the new Foodbank Hunger Report reveals, hunger is now mainstream. It’s an everyday heartache for hundreds of thousands of Victorians. Someone you know, someone you love.

It’s more than 633,000 kids whose mums and dads are going without.

This scale can feel overwhelming, distressing. But it’s not insurmountable.

Because we have people like you.

With your incredible support, we can urgently source enough food to help families who need it this Christmas. Tonnes of fresh stone fruit and beautiful veggies, pantry essentials, yoghurt and bread, and some festive fare.

Which is why, this Christmas, we’re asking Victorians to make room for one more helping. Not on your own plate, but on someone else’s.

Because sometimes the most generous helping you can give is helping someone in need.

Thanks for making sure everyone counts.

For 20 years, Eddie cared for others as a nurse. She never imagined that one day, she’d be the one needing a helping hand.

When her health changed and she could no longer work, life changed too. With limited mobility, Eddie now uses a wheelchair much of the time, and food relief has become an important part of getting by.

“Food does get a bit scarce. I’m in a situation where I can’t really cook, so I’m so reliant on these services,” she says.

Eddie attends a local community breakfast four days a week, where food supplied with the support of Foodbank helps provide nourishing meals for people doing it tough.

“It has given me a sense of food security now,” she says. “I know I’m going to get a meal at least once a day." But weekends can be difficult “because there just isn’t anything”.

Nowadays, Eddie’s caring nature continues to shine. She researches meal programs across her neighbourhood, sharing what she finds to help others who need an extra helping, too.