OzHarvest
Based in NSWRescues surplus food from commercial outlets and gets it to charities feeding people in need. Also runs direct-to-community programs and food waste education.
- Food rescue
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
Emergency food relief in one tap
Emergency food relief gets meals and groceries to people in a crisis. Back one of six Australian food charities in about a minute, and 100% of your donation goes to them.
ACNC Verified
100% of donations to charities
What is emergency food relief?
Emergency food relief is fast, short-term help with food for people who can't cover the basics right now. It might follow a lost job, a big bill, a flood, or a week where the money simply ran out. The goal is food on the table today, while longer-term support catches up.
In Australia, most of it runs through a chain of charities. Some rescue surplus food from farms, supermarkets and kitchens. Others store it, cook it or pack it, then pass it on to local pantries, schools and community groups. If housing is part of the picture too, our guide to homeless charities in Australia is a good next stop.
Giving money is the quickest way to plug in. It needs no sorting or storage, and it lets each charity buy what's running short. When a flood or bushfire is behind the need, our guide to disaster relief donations covers the wider recovery.
- Food rescueSurplus food saved from going to waste and redirected to people who need it.
- Food banksWarehouses that source food and groceries at scale and supply frontline charities.
- Meals and hampersCooked meals, grocery hampers and pantries that reach people directly.
Six food relief charities to back right now
Each one is ACNC-registered and listed on Tap4Change. Tap a card to see their profile, their latest updates and how to give.
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Foodbank Victoria
Based in VICProvides food relief to Victorians doing it tough, working with charities, schools and community food centres to distribute millions of meals every year.
- Food bank
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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FareShare Australia
Based in VICRescues surplus food from businesses and cooks it into free, nutritious meals, then shares them through a network of charities.
- Cooked meals
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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SecondBite
Based in VICRescues surplus food and redistributes it to people in need across Australia, including through emergency food relief programs.
- Food rescue
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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Foodbank Australia
Based in NSWSources food and groceries and distributes them to charities and schools across Australia to ease food insecurity.
- Food bank
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
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Rapid Relief Team (RRT)
Based in NSWDelivers basic emergency relief and food aid to communities in need at home and overseas, including support for farming communities.
- Emergency relief
- Tax deductible
- ACNC registered
Want a different food charity? Search all 60,000+ charities. How we picked these six: from Tap4Change's charity data, we took charities whose main work is food relief in Australia, rated 2 or 3 stars with a complete profile, and ranked them by their most recent annual donations.
A thank you perk from brands that do good
Some donations come with a thank you perk from a partner brand, like a voucher or a free product. It's a small thanks for showing up, never the reason to give. Offers change often, so check what's on when you donate.
See brands that do goodBring your mates along
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When emergency food relief matters most
Need doesn't run on a schedule. These are the moments food charities get busiest, and the charities above already show up for them.
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When the bills pile up
Rent, power and a surprise car repair can leave nothing for groceries. Food banks and free pantries fill that gap so a tough week doesn't mean an empty fridge.
Foodbank Australia supplies charities and schools nationally -
Before the school bell
Kids who turn up hungry struggle to learn. School breakfast programs make sure they start the day with a proper meal.
Foodbank Victoria runs a School Breakfast Club program -
When cooking isn't an option
Not everyone has a kitchen, the gear or the time. Cooked meals made from rescued food go straight to people who need something ready to eat.
FareShare cooks free meals from surplus food -
When a hard season hits the bush
Drought, floods and fires can hit farming towns for months. Emergency relief teams bring food and basics to communities doing it tough.
Rapid Relief Team runs Farmers Community Connect
What your donation actually pays for
Donated food only goes so far. Your money covers the parts that make food relief work: trucks and fuel to collect rescued food, cool rooms to keep it fresh, kitchens to cook it, and the staples that rarely turn up as surplus. It also lets charities move fast when a crisis hits, because they can buy what's short that week instead of waiting for it to be donated.
Programs listed come from each charity's details in Tap4Change's charity data. For how fees, ACNC registration and tax receipts work, see the Tap4Change FAQs, the ACNC Charity Register and the ATO's gifts and donations guide.
Emergency food relief questions, answered
How do I donate to emergency food relief in Australia?
Pick a food relief charity, choose an amount and pay online. On Tap4Change that takes about a minute: open a charity's profile from the list above, tap donate, and choose a one-off or monthly gift.
If a crisis is unfolding right now, a one-off donation is the fastest way to help. A monthly gift gives charities steady funding they can plan around, and you can change or cancel it any time from your donation history. New to giving online? Our guide on how to donate to charity walks through the basics.
Does all of my donation reach the charity?
Yes. Charities receive 100% of donations made through Tap4Change, and Tap4Change doesn't take a fee.
When you donate you can add an optional tip, which helps keep the platform running. It's completely optional and separate from your donation.
Are donations to food relief charities tax deductible?
Yes, if the charity you choose is eligible. Tax deductibility is shown at the top of each charity's page on Tap4Change. Donations to a charity endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), and covered by Item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, are tax deductible.
All six charities on this page are marked as tax deductible in our charity data. You can download your receipt from your profile to claim it at tax time.
Is it better to donate money or food?
In a crisis, money usually goes further. A cash donation doesn't need sorting, storing or transporting, and it lets a charity buy what's short that week, whether that's fresh produce, baby formula or other essentials.
Food drives still matter, especially for small local pantries. If your local group asks for tins, go for it. For fast, flexible help, a donation is the simplest option.
What is a thank you perk, and does it change my donation?
A thank you perk is a small gesture from a brand that partners with Tap4Change, such as a voucher or a free product, offered with some donations. Your donation still goes 100% to the charity. The perk comes from the brand, and offers rotate, so what's available depends on when you give.
If you can't donate right now, reach out to the Tap4Change team at support@tap4change.org. Sharing a charity's page is a great way to help too.