One in six children live in poverty in Australia according to the Australian Council of Social Services. That’s 757,000 children. One in three Australian households with kids struggled with food insecurity over the past year.
It feels like an overwhelming problem but three Queensland blokes: Darren Playle, Steve Gibbs and their mate Rusty are doing something about it. All three experienced food insecurity growing up. They asked themselves a simple question: how can we make a difference?
The answer was The Tukka Project, an inspiring community-driven program where students volunteer to prepare and pack lunches for kids going hungry. The initiative was launched at Our Lady’s College, Annerley and on the first day fifteen lunches were prepared and distributed.
These days lunches are prepared in seven schools and distributed to 30 schools, with thousands distributed since the project started in 2024.
Steve, with over thirty years catering experience, creates the recipes. The three blokes engaged with students and asked them what they wanted. Using feedback, they established a hub and spoke model where a few schools are Tukka Project partners, unlocking volunteering opportunities for their students.
Muffins prepared by students for The Tukka Project. IMAGE supplied
Each of these hub schools then distributes the lunches to five other schools using volunteer parents as drivers. The lunches are discreetly distributed to students in need in normal lunch bags with no logos or anything stigmatising.
A lunch bag and apron supplied by The Tukka Project
In the words of The Tukka Project, ‘When we feed a child, we nourish a future.’
The beauty of this project is its simplicity. It has grown organically and demand is now outstripping supply. The Tukka Project relies on local resources and responds to feedback from volunteers and recipients.
For the volunteers, the model builds life skills, leadership and strengthens their sense of community and meaningful engagement. The recipients get a delicious and nutritious meal with no stigma or embarrassment.
Volunteer students working for The Tukka Project. IMAGE supplied
The Tukka Project is 100 per cent funded by donations and raised $22,272 in partnership with The Big Bash in January. You can Donate here
For more info on The Tukka Project contact kyra@tukkaproject.org or follow Instagram or Facebook
IMAGE of The Tukka Project founder Darren Playle at top of story SUPPLIED
