Local food relief charity HelpingACT wants to buy a food trailer to serve hot meals to more vulnerable Canberrans, and is asking the public to help them raise the $45,000 needed.

“Food need has more than doubled in Canberra, thanks to the increased cost of life,” HelpingACT founder and chair Mohammed Ali said. “A food trailer is therefore the need of the time for us.”

Every month, the charity holds a barbecue for homeless people outside the Early Morning Centre in Civic, as well as monthly curry lunches. Mr Ali wants to extend the barbecue program to the deep south and to the north of Canberra, where he says there is no such service.

“We have to organise more and more barbecues to feed the disadvantaged,” he said. “Many families are struggling in Canberra, and the number of such families is on the rise.”

The food trailer would also be a way for HelpingACT to raise funds at festivals and markets, Mr Ali said, and to take part in multicultural festivals in Canberra and Queanbeyan.

“These barbecues will not only provide food, but … provide harmony and foster mutual understanding,” he said.

So far, HelpingACT has raised a little over $1,000 – leaving $44,000 still to raise. To donate, visit the charity’s GoFundMe page.

“It’s huge, but nothing is huge when it comes to the generosity of Canberra,” Mr Ali said.

HelpingACT was set up in 2018 to provide food security to the vulnerable (refugees and asylum seekers, homeless people, international students, and anyone else in need), and ensure that nobody slept hungry in Canberra. For his efforts, Mr Ali was named Canberra Citizen of the Year in 2022, and the Governor-General commended the charity’s work during the 2021 lockdown.

But although the worst of the pandemic is over, HelpingACT fears the cost-of-living crisis is pushing more Canberrans into poverty; demand for their food services has increased this year. Since last year, HelpingACT has had to fill food pantries twice as often, and double the amount spent on food.

On average, Mr Ali estimates, HelpingACT spends $1,000 every week buying food for families and schools.

Each weekend, the charity packs and delivers food hampers for families in need, containing 10kg of long-life food and fresh fruit and vegetables. Last Sunday, for instance, HelpingACT volunteers packed hampers for 14 families, assisted by Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, ACT Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services.

“What I love most about this city is our community!” Ms Vassarotti wrote on Facebook. “We are living through an inequality crisis – our actions big and small make a difference.”

HelpingACT last week helped a couple of women escaping domestic violence, providing food, household items, and beds.

“This is a way to bring their lives back on track, and quickly, too,” Mr Ali said.

HelpingACT also extended its school breakfast program to include Melba Copland Secondary School.

“A healthy kid ensures a healthy Canberra in the future,” he said.

HelpingACT celebrates Eid al-Adha with refugee families

To celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha (27 June–1 July), HelpingACT gave food and presents to refugee families.

The festival celebrates Ibrahim (Abraham)’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) because Allah (God) told him to; at the last moment, Allah provided a lamb, which Ibrahim sacrificed instead.

At Eid Adha, Muslim families sacrifice cows, lamb, goats or camels; one-third of the meat is distributed to vulnerable people, “with a view to sharing the joy of Eid with them,” Mr Ali said. “This fosters mutual love and care.”

The ACT Association of Malaysian Muslim Families donated 100kg of meat, which, Mr Ali said, “made a real difference to many refugee families”. HelpingACT distributed the meat to refugee families the eve of the holy day.

“This made their Eid day ‘a real Eid day’,” he said. “Many refugee families can’t afford to buy meat themselves. This meat made it possible for them to have some on Eid Day.”

HelpingACT also gave 15kg to the Kippax Uniting Church food pantry, and 10kg each to the Holy Cross Tuckerbox in Hackett and to Community Services #1.

“These pantries have some Muslim families who get food assistance from them,” Mr Ali said. “Our donation helped these families having meat added to their grocery donation for Eid.”

HelpingACT also distributed 40 toys to refugees and asylum seekers (including Afghans) at Companion House, to which the charity supplies food ever week.

“A toy means the world to a young child,” Mr Ali said. “The smile on his or her face radiates on the faces of the parents as well, adding to the pleasures of Eid.”

HelpingACT is still distributing halal meat if any family needs it. For more information, or to seek food relief, visit their website.