By Afraa Kori
Too many people are struggling to put food on the table while perfectly good food goes to waste.
Aroha Langley saw an opportunity to bridge this gap by redistributing surplus food to those who need it most.
“Our mission isn’t new, but it’s incredibly simple—to ensure that no one in our community goes without,” she said.
“We do this by sourcing and distributing food parcels to those in need and collaborating with other charities and community groups to maximise reach and effectiveness.”
“This issue is deeply personal to me—I’ve experienced it firsthand. There were many times growing up when my family relied on food relief services, so I understand just how important they are. That experience shaped my passion for helping others.”
While many incredible charities are already working hard to provide support, the growing demand means that more assistance is always needed. Through direct engagement with locals, it became evident that a local, responsive initiative could help complement existing efforts and reach even more people in need.
Just before Christmas, Ms Aroha launched We All Eat, an independent, nonprofit organisation that offers food parcels to individuals and families in need, ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food, one parcel at a time.
“I couldn’t have done it alone. I’ve teamed up with some truly amazing people—individuals with experience in youth support, education, and community services. Their knowledge and expertise have been invaluable in shaping our work and ensuring we provide the right kind of support to those who need it most.”
They have pantries in Beaconsfield, Carrum Downs and occasionally Pakenham, which are the homes of Aroha and other members.
The food parcels include whatever is donated by their members and the community. This often includes staples like bread, canned food, pasta, rice, and sometimes fresh produce and milk, depending on availability.
At the moment, they distribute food parcels twice a week. In the first month of operation, they distributed 100 food parcels to households across Frankston, Casey, and Cardinia and demand continues to grow. So far in January, they have provided 120 food parcels, directly supporting 40 households across Frankston, Casey, Cardinia, and Dandenong.
The need has always been clear. Rising living costs, financial hardship, and unexpected challenges like job loss or illness have left many families struggling to afford food—not just in these areas, but across the wider community.
But beyond the numbers, the impact is emotional and social—restoring dignity, creating connections, and ensuring people feel seen and supported during difficult times.
“Every food parcel we deliver is more than just food, it’s a reminder to families that they are seen, valued, and supported by their community,“ Aroha said.
“Seeing the relief and gratitude from families receiving food parcels and watching the community come together to support one another has been incredibly rewarding. But personally, one of the biggest milestones was the day we received our registration as a charity from the ACNC. It took a lot of work to get to that point, and it was a moment that affirmed everything we’re working towards.”
This year, they want to focus on helping people make the most of the food they already have at home. They plan to share practical tips on food storage, ways to reduce waste, and budget-friendly meal ideas that can help stretch every dollar. These tips will be shared online through their social media channels, making them easy to access and implement.
Moving forward, We All Eat aims to provide training, volunteer, and employment opportunities to empower individuals, improve job prospects, and promote self-sufficiency.
“We’re doing our best to respond to every food relief enquiry, but demand keeps increasing, and we often run out of food before we can help everyone. Our focus remains on collecting food, coordinating deliveries, and building partnerships to expand our capacity.”
They also would like to establish a permanent food hub, increase storage and distribution capacity, and advocate for systemic change to reduce food insecurity at its core.
If you would like to support their mission, consider donating food and essentials. Every little bit helps create more stories of relief and gratitude.
For food assistance: Text 0431 258 090 with your name and suburb. To volunteer or partner with We All Eat: email info@wealleat.org.au.
