{"id":25531,"date":"2025-12-12T12:17:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T01:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foodbank.org.au\/?p=25531"},"modified":"2025-12-12T12:17:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T01:17:25","slug":"meet-a-community-partner-the-y-queensland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foodbank.org.au\/meet-a-community-partner-the-y-queensland\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet a Community Partner: The Y Queensland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Community Partner Story<\/span> <\/h1>

The Y Queensland <\/h1> <\/div>
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For more than 19 years, The Y Queensland has partnered with Foodbank Queensland to deliver one of the state\u2019s most essential support programs \u2013 the School Breakfast Program. Together, they ensure children across Queensland start their day with a full stomach and the energy to learn. <\/p>

In the last financial year alone (FY25), The Y Queensland provided more than 2.3 million meals to schools across the state, supported by Foodbank Queensland, government funding and generous donors. Foodbank Queensland now supplies 183 of The Y Queensland\u2019s School Breakfast Programs. <\/p>

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t supply the bread, the milk, the bananas and the Weet-Bix to schools without Foodbank\u2019s funding for our main program,\u201d<\/b> Amanda, The Y Queensland\u2019s School Breakfast Program Manager said. That food has a retail value of nearly half a million dollars each year.\u00a0 <\/p>

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At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief that no child should have to face the day hungry. As Amanda, explains, the need is both urgent and ongoing. \u201cChildren can\u2019t deal with hangry. They\u2019ve got no way of going to a cupboard or a fridge and getting a piece of fruit or something to eat that\u2019s simple yet healthy. With a School Breakfast Program, teachers see disruptions reduce. Some children go to school just so they\u2019re fed.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

Behind every meal served is a story of struggle and of care. Amanda recalls one story that captures just how vital these breakfasts can be. A teacher at a Brisbane school noticed a young girl who would take her toast and disappear behind a brick wall each morning. Curiously, the teacher followed her and discovered the girl\u2019s mother waiting there with a baby in a pram and a toddler beside her. The family was sharing that single piece of toast for breakfast. When the mother realised she\u2019d been seen, she burst into tears, ashamed that she had been caught. But instead of judgment, the teacher offered compassion. Amanda shared, \u201cWe encourage the families and siblings of the students to join us for breakfast. The teacher just said, \u2018You’re welcome every day. You and your three children can have breakfast with us.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/b> <\/p>

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It\u2019s moments like these that reveal the true purpose of the School Breakfast Program. It\u2019s not only about the Vegemite on toast and bowl of cereal; it\u2019s about community and belonging. <\/p>

Karen, who has coordinated a The Y Queensland School Breakfast Program for more than 17 years, has seen the difference consistent food relief can make. She remembers when Foodbank\u2019s partners were able to provide consistently for their programs. \u201cWhen Tip Top became a partner and came in with Foodbank, it made my day. That connection solidified the program to continue,\u201d she shared. <\/p>

Karen has seen firsthand what hunger looks like in the classroom. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it straight up, a family of four young boys, single parent, nothing to eat. The youngest got in trouble for taking food out of the cupboard. So they were devouring breakfast at school.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

What began as a small initiative has become a lifeline for children and families across the state. The success of the program meant Karen and her team could no longer deliver breakfast themselves, but she doesn\u2019t mind sharing, \u201cIt\u2019s gotten too big now. And that\u2019s okay, because more kids are getting food.\u201d<\/b> But her passion for this program only gets stronger. \u201cI just have a passion to serve children, serve people, feed them bread, make sure they\u2019re full. It\u2019s a lifelong passion.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

Beyond breakfast, The Y Queensland and Foodbank Queensland also work together to provide more than 2,000 Food for Kids hampers over every school holiday period, ensuring children don\u2019t go hungry when school kitchens close. <\/p>

For Gina from The Y Queensland, the connection between breakfast and learning outcomes is undeniable. Research shared by The Kids Research Institute Australia shows that children who skip breakfast are almost twice as likely to perform poorly on NAPLAN tests. Gina explained, \u201cit actually changes their wellbeing, helps them learn, think and perform.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

Together, The Y Queensland and Foodbank Queensland are making sure every child has what they need to thrive, not just food for the day, but the nourishment, confidence and care to build a brighter future.\u00a0 <\/p>

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Community Partner Story The Y Queensland For more than 19 years, The Y Queensland has partnered with Foodbank Queensland to deliver one of the state\u2019s most essential support programs \u2013 the School Breakfast Program. Together, they ensure children across Queensland start their day with a full stomach and the energy to learn. In the last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":25535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[236,242],"tags":[22,176],"class_list":["post-25531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-qld","tag-foodbank-queensland","tag-partner"],"acf":[],"formatted_date":"December 12, 2025","raw_html":"

Community Partner Story<\/span> <\/h1>

The Y Queensland <\/h1> <\/div>
<\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

For more than 19 years, The Y Queensland has partnered with Foodbank Queensland to deliver one of the state\u2019s most essential support programs \u2013 the School Breakfast Program. Together, they ensure children across Queensland start their day with a full stomach and the energy to learn. <\/p>

In the last financial year alone (FY25), The Y Queensland provided more than 2.3 million meals to schools across the state, supported by Foodbank Queensland, government funding and generous donors. Foodbank Queensland now supplies 183 of The Y Queensland\u2019s School Breakfast Programs. <\/p>

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t supply the bread, the milk, the bananas and the Weet-Bix to schools without Foodbank\u2019s funding for our main program,\u201d<\/b> Amanda, The Y Queensland\u2019s School Breakfast Program Manager said. That food has a retail value of nearly half a million dollars each year.\u00a0 <\/p>

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<\/p> <\/div>

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<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief that no child should have to face the day hungry. As Amanda, explains, the need is both urgent and ongoing. \u201cChildren can\u2019t deal with hangry. They\u2019ve got no way of going to a cupboard or a fridge and getting a piece of fruit or something to eat that\u2019s simple yet healthy. With a School Breakfast Program, teachers see disruptions reduce. Some children go to school just so they\u2019re fed.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

Behind every meal served is a story of struggle and of care. Amanda recalls one story that captures just how vital these breakfasts can be. A teacher at a Brisbane school noticed a young girl who would take her toast and disappear behind a brick wall each morning. Curiously, the teacher followed her and discovered the girl\u2019s mother waiting there with a baby in a pram and a toddler beside her. The family was sharing that single piece of toast for breakfast. When the mother realised she\u2019d been seen, she burst into tears, ashamed that she had been caught. But instead of judgment, the teacher offered compassion. Amanda shared, \u201cWe encourage the families and siblings of the students to join us for breakfast. The teacher just said, \u2018You're welcome every day. You and your three children can have breakfast with us.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/b> <\/p>

\r <\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

\"featured

<\/p> <\/div>

\"featured

<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

It\u2019s moments like these that reveal the true purpose of the School Breakfast Program. It\u2019s not only about the Vegemite on toast and bowl of cereal; it\u2019s about community and belonging. <\/p>

Karen, who has coordinated a The Y Queensland School Breakfast Program for more than 17 years, has seen the difference consistent food relief can make. She remembers when Foodbank\u2019s partners were able to provide consistently for their programs. \u201cWhen Tip Top became a partner and came in with Foodbank, it made my day. That connection solidified the program to continue,\u201d she shared. <\/p>

Karen has seen firsthand what hunger looks like in the classroom. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it straight up, a family of four young boys, single parent, nothing to eat. The youngest got in trouble for taking food out of the cupboard. So they were devouring breakfast at school.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

What began as a small initiative has become a lifeline for children and families across the state. The success of the program meant Karen and her team could no longer deliver breakfast themselves, but she doesn\u2019t mind sharing, \u201cIt\u2019s gotten too big now. And that\u2019s okay, because more kids are getting food.\u201d<\/b> But her passion for this program only gets stronger. \u201cI just have a passion to serve children, serve people, feed them bread, make sure they\u2019re full. It\u2019s a lifelong passion.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

Beyond breakfast, The Y Queensland and Foodbank Queensland also work together to provide more than 2,000 Food for Kids hampers over every school holiday period, ensuring children don\u2019t go hungry when school kitchens close. <\/p>

For Gina from The Y Queensland, the connection between breakfast and learning outcomes is undeniable. Research shared by The Kids Research Institute Australia shows that children who skip breakfast are almost twice as likely to perform poorly on NAPLAN tests. Gina explained, \u201cit actually changes their wellbeing, helps them learn, think and perform.\u201d <\/b> <\/p>

Together, The Y Queensland and Foodbank Queensland are making sure every child has what they need to thrive, not just food for the day, but the nourishment, confidence and care to build a brighter future.\u00a0 <\/p>

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