New research commissioned by food rescue and relief organisation SecondBite reveals that young people, singles and parents are most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
In the last 12 months, one in four (25%) or more than 5 million Australians say that the food they bought ran out before they had enough money to get more, while 30% (around 6 million) were worried it was going to happen to them.
Here are the key findings of SecondBite’s research:
- Young people feeling the pinch: Gen Zs are most likely to say that they frequently worry whether their food will run out before they have enough money to buy more (24%, compared to Millennials: 9%, Gen X: 15% and Baby Boomers: 7%). Gen Zs are most likely to say that they frequently experienced their food running out before they had money to buy more (18%) compared to Millennials (7%), Gen X (9%) and Baby Boomers (4%).
- Regional Australians up against it: Those outside the major capital cities are more likely to frequently worry it is going to happen to them (15% vs. 10%) .
- Singles and those with kids under pressure: Those who aren’t married are more likely to say this happens regularly (31% vs. 20%) or regularly worry it is going to happen to them (38% vs. 25%). Those with children under 18 at home are more likely than those without to say that they have frequently experienced food not lasting until they have money to get more (12% compared to 6%).
- Even higher-income earners suffering: 20% of people with a household income above $100K have experienced the food they bought running out before they had enough money to get more , and 24% were worried it was going to happen.
SecondBite supplies food to charities such as community groups, women’s shelters and youth centres. CEO Daniel Moorfield said the organisation is experiencing unprecedented demand for its services as too many hardworking Aussies are struggling to put food on the table.
“Our research found Aussies are stressed about the lack of food in their cupboard, with many having to go hungry before their pay cheque comes in. An alarming 76% of the charities we work with cited an increase in demand for their services compared to the year prior. Sadly, two in five have had to turn people away, and one in five have had to waitlist requests,” said Moorfield.
Brisbane mother Wendy James said she and her husband worked tirelessly to purchase a home, run their small office furniture and stationery business, and support their kids. However, the soaring cost of living meant they were unable to keep up with basic weekly living costs.
SecondBite is a crucial lifeline, providing them with fresh fruit, vegetables and pantry staples to stretch their budget and ensure their children receive nutritious meals.
“We are a hardworking family. It’s not just families who are living out of their cars that are being impacted – there are families struggling to pay their mortgage, too. Everything can look good on the outside, but it’s really not. The fruit and vegetables that we get from SecondBite are amazing and really help with our food budget,” she explained.
Every day, SecondBite collects more than 69,000 kg of surplus fruit and vegetables. Every week, through over 1,000 charity partners, SecondBite provides this food to over 500,000 Australians. The organisation also provides baked goods, meat, dairy products, pre-prepared meals from FareShare and pantry staples.
SecondBite is calling for tax-deductible donations before EOFY that will be matched by The Hupert Family Foundation.
“As demand for donated produce and pantry staples increases, donating before 30 June means you can claim it on tax and also double your impact, supporting thousands of Aussies who need to supplement their household meals,” said Moorfield.
In 2024, SecondBite provided an equivalent of more than 50 million meals to Australians in need. For every dollar donated before EOFY, SecondBite will be able to distribute enough food for up to 10 meals.
To donate, visit SecondBite’s website.
Read also: Groundbreaking merger between SecondBite and FareShare
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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