The Rapid Relief Team’s Food Box initiative has received a near perfect score – with 96 per cent of recipients, including prominent community and charitable organisations, giving it the thumbs up.
Aussie charity, the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), works with a variety of groups to deliver Food Boxes to those in need or facing crisis.
The RRT Food Box contains a variety of non-perishable, long-life food and can feed a family of four for up to 48 hours. Through 2021, RRT has donated 8,975 Food Boxes to people in need.
The RRT Food Box program has been running for nearly ten years and RRT undertakes an annual survey to ensure it is meeting the need of the community.
96 per cent of respondents to RRT’s annual survey said the Food Box initiative was very valuable (90%) or valuable (6%). Four per cent were ‘neutral’.
Nearly 9 in 10 respondents (88.9%) said the contents of the Food Box were appealing.
Comments include recognising the contents of the Food Box were well thought out and suitable for a range of dietary needs.
And that it was important to have a good supply of easy to prepare contents due to recipients in insecure living arrangements.
100 per cent of respondents said they were very likely (86%) or likely (15%) to recommend the initiative.
RRT Director Ken Earl said it was Christian values of care and compassion that were at the core of the Rapid Relief Team’s services and support.
“Sometimes not needing to find the next meal to put on the table can prove a great boost to those doing it tough and we are only grateful that this initiative be able to help in a small way,” Mr Earl said.
The RRT Food Boxes are prioritised and distributed to families and individuals requiring emergency food assistance.
Feedback from partner agencies included that the small touches in the Food Box like chocolate and tea, mean a lot to people with nothing.
They were initially developed as an assistance tool to support those escaping domestic violence situations or needing to find short term emergency accommodation, but the program has expanded significantly.
Community welfare agencies say the Food Box provides great immediate support while the organisation finds temporary support for their client.
Over the last two years, recipients of the RRT Food Boxes have expanded to include temporary or casual workers, or the elderly, isolating at home due to Covid-19, to those recovering from the impacts of bushfire, floods and drought.
The Rapid Relief Team is made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC).
In 2021, RRT provided the following assistance across Australia:
- 311 events supported
- 11,812 volunteer hours
- 40,246 meals served
- 8,975 RRT Food Boxes donated
- 541 tonnes of livestock pellets donated to drought affected farmers
- 1,300 bales of hay donated to flood affected farmers
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