It's easy to think of food waste and food insecurity as two separate problems. One is supermarkets throwing away too much. The other is charities not having enough. On the Sunshine Coast, one new warehouse is quietly proving they're actually the same problem wearing two different hats, and the same solution can fix them both.

First Things First: Who Are OzHarvest?

If the name is new to you, OzHarvest is Australia's leading food rescue organisation. Ronni Kahn AO founded it in 2004 after noticing how much good food her events business was throwing out, and deciding to do something about it. Today, its iconic yellow vans collect surplus food from donors and deliver it to charities that feed people in need, saving over 250 tonnes of good food every week. It also runs free supermarkets.

That's the idea in a nutshell, and on the Sunshine Coast it has just had a serious upgrade.

So What's Actually Changed on the Coast?

OzHarvest has swapped its smaller Coolum base for a bigger warehouse at Kunda Park, closer to the region's food donors and charity network. From there, refrigerated trucks can collect quality surplus food faster and in bigger loads, then get it into charity kitchens before it goes off.

The timing feels almost poetic. The hub's opening lined up with OzHarvest delivering its 65 millionth meal in Queensland (so cool)!

Why Is the Need So Big Right Now?

Cost of living pressures are pushing more Queensland households to choose between paying bills and buying groceries, and OzHarvest's own charity partners are feeling it first. The organisation's 2026 Frontline Report found 70 per cent of charities have seen demand increase over the past year, and worryingly, 36 per cent of people seeking food relief are doing so for the first time in their lives. Nationally, roughly 350,000 people access food relief services every month, and more than 74,000 are turned away because there simply isn't enough to go around.

Ronni Kahn has said the surge is unlike anything she's seen in more than two decades running the charity. "We're seeing tradies in their vests coming to our free supermarkets, and the queue is around 500 to 600 people," she said. "We have never seen anything like we are seeing right now."

That's the reality behind every pallet that rolls out of the new hub.

What Does That Look Like for Local Charities?

Sunshine Coast charity Urban Angels is one of 45 organisations, from Gympie to Caboolture, supported by the Kunda Park hub. Unit manager Birgit Sowden said the donated food "makes an enormous difference" to their work. "Not only does it help us put more nourishing meals into the hands of people who need them most, but it also supports our sustainability by helping keep our costs manageable," she said. Urban Angels alone delivers up to 15,000 meals a month, a share of the more than 20,000kg of surplus food OzHarvest now moves through the Sunshine Coast and Gympie each month.

A Hub With Room to Grow

The Kunda Park move is described as just the next step in OzHarvest Queensland's plan to grow its presence across the state, create local jobs and strengthen relationships with food donors. For the families, kids and pensioners who'll never see the warehouse itself, it simply means a better chance that tonight's dinner turns up on time.

It's a good reminder that looking after the planet and looking after each other are rarely two different jobs. If this story has you thinking about your own kitchen, our kitchen food storage range is a place to start, with simple swaps like reusable silicone food bags, natural beeswax wraps and freshness extending produce bags that help your own leftovers get a second life instead of an early trip to the bin.

Ready for another feel-good story? Check out our blog here about Tasmania's underwater gardeners!

With Love, 
Ellie x

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is OzHarvest's new Sunshine Coast food rescue hub located?

The new hub is at Kunda Park, replacing OzHarvest's previous, smaller base in Coolum. It gives the charity closer access to local food donors and the region's main transport corridors.

How much food does OzHarvest rescue on the Sunshine Coast each month?

OzHarvest redistributes more than 20,000kg of quality surplus food each month to 45 charities stretching from the Sunshine Coast to Gympie.

Why has demand for food relief increased in Australia?

Cost of living pressures are the main driver. OzHarvest's 2026 Frontline Report found 70 per cent of charity partners reported increased demand, and 36 per cent of people seeking help were doing so for the first time.

How many people access food relief services in Australia each month?

OzHarvest's charity network estimates about 350,000 people access food relief services every month nationally, with more than 74,000 turned away due to limited supply.

Who is OzHarvest's national food rescue partner?

Woolworths is OzHarvest's national food rescue partner and supported the opening of the new Sunshine Coast hub.