This Advent period, we are inviting our community to collect groceries and other essentials to help us stock our Foodbank over the Christmas holidays.  

Food insecurity is a significant challenge for the families and individuals that we serve.

Long waits for resolution of asylum applications people are spending extended periods of time without work rights, access to Federal Government support, or other ways of supporting themselves.

Each week, the JRS Foodbank provides food and essential items to 200 families.

Our Foodbank feeds and provides necessities for families who would otherwise have nowhere else to go. Demand for food relief increases significantly over the holiday period, and your support at this time of year would make a meaningful and immediate difference.

We are calling for both food and essential item donations, and physical or digital supermarket gift vouchers ($25, $50, or $100 Coles and Woolworths Gift vouchers).  

Click here to view the full list of items families may need over the Christmas period.  

Why Gift Cards?  

Our Foodbank will close for a short period over Christmas and New Year, but as we all know, the need for food and essential items does not stop.  

Supermarket gift cards allow the individuals and families we support to purchase groceries and essentials while our Foodbank is closed, maintain dignity and autonomy in choosing what they need, and get through an especially difficult period without interruption to support. 

Digital gift cards can be purchased online on the Woolworths or Coles websites and sent directly to JRS. Simply enter ‘JRS Foodbank Client’ as the ‘Name of Recipient’ and foodbank@jrs.org.au as the ‘Recipient’s Email Address’.  

Alternatively, you can purchase physical gift cards from your local supermarket and deliver them to JRS Australia at 10-12 Victoria Rd, Parramatta, NSW, 2150, or send them to PO Box 522 Kings Cross, NSW 1340. 

Ready to run your drive?

If you have any questions or would like resources to help make your food or gift voucher drive a success, please contact Kristen Lazarus, our Schools and Community Engagement Officer: kristen.lazarus@jrs.org.au

Delivery Instructions 

Christmas is our busiest time of year. Following the instructions below will help us ensure we have the space to receive your delivery and the staff and volunteers to assist – so that every donation reaches someone in need before the holidays.  

• Delivery deadline: Please deliver your donations to us by Thursday 3 December. This gives us time to sort and distribute donations to those that rely on our Foodbank before we close for the holidays. 

• Drop off Time: We can accept donations on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Extended hours are available until 6.30pm on 1 and 3 December.  

• Drop Off Location: Our address is 10-12 Victoria Road, Parramatta, but access to our loading zone is via Villiers Street, next to the Ann D.Clark Centre. Click here for photos and further instructions.
  

  

• Please give us at least 24 hours notice of your intended delivery time, so we can have the right staff and space ready to receive it.  

Who do I contact to arrange my delivery?  

Kristina Lawton 

Food and Material Aid Officer  

Working Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 8.30am-4.30pm 

Phone: 0434 422 573  

Email: Foodbank@jrs.org.au  

Thank you for walking alongside refugees, people seeking asylum, and vulnerable migrants in our community. Your generosity this Christmas brings hope, dignity, and community to those who need it most.