Access to fresh, healthy vegetables shouldn’t be a luxury — but for many families relying on food relief services, it’s a daily challenge. Limited availability, short shelf life, and rising costs make it difficult for vulnerable households to access the kind of nourishing food we all deserve.
At Goonawarra Neighbourhood House in Sunbury, this is a reality the team faces every week.
Every Thursday, Goonawarra’s Food Relief Service opens its doors to around 40 local families, providing essential grocery support to those doing it tough. But while pantry staples are more easily sourced, fresh vegetables — especially greens, herbs, and spring onions — are much harder to come by.
That’s where Foodcube and our partner Villawood stepped in.
A Garden Grows in Goonawarra
In July, we were proud to donate two Foodcube raised garden beds to Goonawarra Neighbourhood House, creating a new opportunity to grow nutritious, homegrown produce right on site.
With the help of an incredible team of volunteers, the garden beds were filled with rich soil and planted out with leafy greens, spring onions, and fresh herbs — the very ingredients most often missing from weekly food hampers.
It wasn’t just a planting day. It was a day of shared purpose, community connection, and practical action. As the sun shone and the seedlings went in, the atmosphere was filled with laughter, teamwork, and a clear sense that something meaningful was growing.
From Garden to Kitchen
After a morning of hard work, volunteers were treated to a warm, hearty vegetable soup cooked on-site by Isabel in the Goonawarra kitchen — a delicious preview of what these garden beds will soon be producing.
The best part? Once established, the Foodcubes will keep producing season after season, providing an ongoing source of fresh vegetables to supplement the Food Relief Service and nourish local families.
Growing What Matters
At Foodcube, we believe that growing food locally is one of the most powerful ways to support communities — not just nutritionally, but emotionally and socially, too.
The partnership with Goonawarra Neighbourhood House is a perfect example of this. With a small footprint and a big impact, the new garden beds are more than just a way to grow food. They’re a symbol of resilience, care, and community coming together.
We’re honoured to play a small part in the work Goonawarra does — and we can’t wait to see what their garden grows next.
Learn more about the work of Goonawarra Neighbourhood House at
👉 goonawarranh.com.au
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