Our Story

One Meal – It Makes a Difference is a not-for-profit, community organisation that helps to feed, clothe and support the homeless, disenfranchised, vulnerable and at-risk members of our local communities. 

One Meal was founded December in 2014 when a group of friends came together to give back to the community with a one-off street service at Green Park in Sydney, providing “One Meal” to people in need at Christmas. A month later they were back again, and One Meal – It Makes a Difference was born.

One Meal now provides hundreds of meals to the people in need every week. Regular weekly community meals serve up delicious hot dinners for over 500 patrons across Sydney including Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown (Kingsgrove and Riverwood), Sydney City (Darlinghurst and Surry Hills), Northern Beaches (Manly and Narraweena), and Sutherland Shire (Cronulla, Miranda and Sutherland).

Each of these services originally started, and now continues each week, entirely thanks to local volunteers and supporters (sponsors, donors, partners, etc) who are dedicated to providing food, cooking meals and/or delivering services to help people in need within their local community. 

Weekly Community Meal Services provide a hot, nutritious main meal plus sweet treat, as well as a breakfast pack, bread, fruit and other food items to take away. Where possible, patrons are also offered blankets, swags, sanitary packs, toiletries, clothing items, etc as needed. 

Our meal services also create opportunities for positive connection and engagement – whether it’s just a friendly greeting or a general chat – these connections help address social disadvantage, reduce isolation and strengthen our communities. We offer inclusion, friendship, dignity and hope.

Some One Meal locations also deliver weekly hampers and pantry staples to individuals and families needing extra support, including fresh fruit & veggies, meat and dairy, plus non-perishables like tinned fish, pasta and sauces, canned fruit and vegetables, spreads, cereals, tea, coffee, etc. These hampers and staples contribute to over 2,500 meals every week. 

The demand for food relief services continues to grow, highlighting Sydney’s “hidden hunger crisis” – where people going without proper food are not just the homeless or unemployed, but increasingly ordinary people whose situation changes due to illness or death of a breadwinner, family breakup and/or fleeing domestic violence, abandoned or isolated elderly, as well as people who struggle to access support services due to challenges like restricted mobility, mental health including anxiety (e.g. agoraphobia), challenging family situations (incl. DV fears), physical limitations, isolation, communication/language/culture barriers, and many other challenges.

One Meal operates on a model of collaboration with local social service and community agencies, and other service providers to enable cross-referral and broad support that benefits our patrons and their well-being.

One Meal services are given free of charge, and without prejudice, partisanship or judgement. 

You can get involved today by donating time, food or money.

For more information please contact us.