A week of community, good food, practical help, and a few big steps towards the future.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Notes From the Field — a look at what’s been happening this week at Food Not Bombs Hobart.

It’s been a big week, with some exciting news, some wonderful community moments, and a few reminders of why we do what we do.

Foodbank Tasmania — taking our story to Canberra and beyond

First, some exciting news. Foodbank Tasmania has invited me to be a spokesperson on poverty in Tasmania at an event in Canberra next week.

This follows the filming of a video featuring Food Not Bombs Hobart, showing what food rescue looks like when it becomes something more than simply handing out food. It’s about cooking together, sharing a meal, building relationships, and creating a space where people belong.

I’ll be seeing the final cut of the video after lunch today, and I’m looking forward to seeing how our community’s story comes together.

What matters to me is that this isn’t just my story. It belongs to the volunteers, the people who share our table, the food donors, and everyone who makes this work possible.

We rescue more than 300 kilograms of food a week. But the real measure of what we do is what happens when that food reaches a kitchen, becomes a meal, and brings people together.

The New Sydney Hotel — turning up the flavour

Last weekend’s Shared Table was another great gathering, and the New Sydney Hotel meal was something special.

Ash, the owner of the New Sydney Hotel, provided a huge chilli beef meal. It was hot, full of flavour, and very much loved by the people who came along.

And that brings me to something I think deserves a conversation.

Too often, meals provided through social services can be bland, predictable, and stripped of the herbs, spices and flavours that make food enjoyable. Of course, there are practical challenges in cooking for large numbers of people, and everyone has different needs. But everyone has tastes, too.

People experiencing poverty shouldn’t have to give up the pleasure of a good meal.

A generous meal like Ash’s chilli beef reminds us that food relief can be nourishing, satisfying and delicious. It can offer dignity, choice and a little excitement in an otherwise difficult week.

A big thank you to Ash and the New Sydney Hotel for being part of what we’re building at Food Not Bombs Hobart. Your contribution makes a real difference.

Building the future — FNB Hobart Makers

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on something that I hope will help secure the future of Food Not Bombs Hobart: our new online makers shop.

You can find it at https://fnbhobart.shop

FNB Hobart Makers brings together the work of local makers and small creative enterprises. The idea is to connect people who appreciate handmade products with the people who make them, while creating another way to support our community work.

This is about more than selling crafts. It’s about building a model where practical skills, creativity and small businesses can help sustain community projects into the future.

I’ll be honest, though. We’re under financial pressure. We haven’t had donations or sales for three weeks, and I’m running out of money to keep everything moving.

We can’t rely on goodwill alone. We need sustainable ways to fund the food rescue, shared meals and practical support we provide.

So, if you’ve been following our work, please have a look at the shop, share it with someone who appreciates handmade goods, or consider making a purchase. Every sale helps us build something that can last.

Go, Priscilla! A little win for Woodcraft Adventures Tasmania

And speaking of makers, there’s some lovely news from Priscilla at Woodcraft Adventures Tasmania.

Priscilla, one of our leading small makers at FNB Hobart Makers, has received an order from The Woodcraft Shop in Richmond, Tasmania.

Her work combines craftsmanship, Tasmanian timber and years of practical experience. It’s wonderful to see a local maker getting recognition and new opportunities.

Go, girl!

This is exactly the kind of thing we want FNB Hobart Makers to encourage: skilled people building something of their own, finding customers, and turning their abilities into a sustainable enterprise.

Three white goods, three opportunities for a fresh start

A big thank you this week to Fluer and our partners at Return2Community.

We’ve finally allocated the three white goods Fluer donated to us. They’ve been sitting on our front verandah while we’ve worked out where they could make the greatest difference.

They’ve now gone to a mother and daughter who are entering public housing for the first time, as well as another person navigating disability-related circumstances.

These aren’t just appliances. They’re the practical things that help turn a house into a home — the things many of us take for granted until we don’t have them.

A fridge, a washing machine or another essential household item can make a real difference when you’re starting again.

Thank you, Fluer, for helping us turn donated goods into practical support for people who need it.

Pete’s Homeless Emergency Response — a new experiment

Finally, there’s an interesting new development with Pete.

After a long winter out on the streets, Pete is thawing out a little, and we’re working together on an experimental project responding to homelessness.

Pete has direct contact with people experiencing homelessness, while I work from our home base to build relationships with families, parents and other concerned people who are trying to help someone they care about.

Sometimes a parent contacts us because their adult child is living on the streets. Sometimes a family is worried, doesn’t know what to do next, or has lost contact with the services that might help.

Our idea is to act as a bridge — bringing people together, listening to what’s happening, and helping coordinate practical support and connections to services.

That doesn’t mean we can make someone accept help when they’re not ready. People have their own choices, and relationships can be complicated. But we can listen to families, keep communication open, and look for opportunities to help without simply giving up on someone.

Pete brings his street-level experience. I bring relationship-building, coordination and the work of connecting people with the wider community.

It’s early days, and we’re learning as we go. But sometimes new approaches begin with two people deciding to try something different.

That’s our week

So, that’s a little of what’s been happening at Food Not Bombs Hobart.

We’ve shared a great meal, celebrated a local maker, found homes for donated appliances, built new relationships, and started experimenting with better ways to support people experiencing homelessness.

We’ve also got a big week ahead, with the Foodbank video being released and the opportunity to take our community’s story to Canberra.

None of this happens in isolation. It takes food donors, volunteers, local businesses, makers, community partners and people willing to show up for one another.

If you’d like to be part of it, there are several ways you can help: volunteer, donate, share our work, or support the makers who are helping us build a more sustainable future.

Visit https://fnbhobart.org to find out more about Food Not Bombs Hobart, and head to https://fnbhobart.shop to discover the makers and products helping support our work.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for being part of this community.

Until next time, remember: food is more than food. It’s connection, dignity, and a reason to come together.

This table is open. No one is turned away.