In the last 12 months, nearly two million Australian households have experienced food insecurity[1].
Eat Up Australia, a leading charity providing free school lunches to children, is looking to play its part by minimising this number and providing lunches to kids that would otherwise go to school hungry.
It comes as in FY24 Eat Up delivered 963,000 free lunches nationally, a 49% increase compared to the year prior, as the demand for food relief increased due to a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
National Sandwich Day is on 3 November and Eat Up is asking Aussie families to “Give us your lunch money!” to raise much-needed funds that will support families grappling with food insecurity.
Eat Up is encouraging families to take a packed lunch instead of buying lunch during this time, and to what they would have spent to help feed a hungry child at school in Term 4.
Eat Up Australia co-CEO Elise Cook says: “We have a goal of raising $50,000 all of which will go towards feeding hungry kids. Sandwich Day will make a real difference to the disadvantaged children we currently support in over 900 schools nationally.”
Dietitian Lyndi Cohen says: “As a Dietitian and parent, I know firsthand that lunch is crucial for children; it fuels their bodies and minds, helping them focus and learn effectively. Programs like Eat Up are vital in providing nutritious meals to hungry kids, ensuring no child goes without. This week, I’ve given up my lunch money to support their annual sandwich day appeal—because every child deserves a healthy meal to thrive.”
Parent and food blogger Ashleigh Paterson says: “Nothing pulls at my heartstrings like kids in need! Supporting Eat Up’s Sandwich Day appeal is a way to ensure that every child has access to nutritious meals. When kids are well-fed, they can focus better, learn more effectively, and thrive in the classroom.” – Ashleigh Paterson (@ashleigh.cooks)
Eat Up provides lunches to kids who would otherwise go hungry and has made nearly 4 million lunches for kids across the country.