Harvesting Hope: A Sunday of Service with Rotary Club of Melbourne and SecondBite at Prahran Market

2nd February, I had the privilege of becoming a Rotary Club of Melbourne volunteer for SecondBite, an incredible organisation dedicated to rescuing and redistributing surplus fresh food to people in need. Co-founded by Simone and Ian Carson, SecondBite has made a significant impact by providing millions of healthy meals annually to those who might otherwise go without. Their work is driven by a vision where no good food goes to waste and where everyone, regardless of circumstance, has access to nutritious food.

On this hot Sunday afternoon, I joined a dedicated team led by Sue and Reg Smith at the Prahran Market in Melbourne, tasked with collecting a variety of fresh produce from generous vendors. With a well-organised plan in hand, we navigated through the market, engaging with stallholders and collecting fruit, vegetables, bread, and other food items. Notable contributors included Pino’s Fine Food Stall, Q Le Baker, and Noisette Bread, among others, all highlighted in our collection plan for their generosity.

Our team's coordination and efficiency allowed us to execute our collection plan to perfection. Each member of the team played a crucial role, from handling logistics to directly engaging with the vendors. Wearing our SecondBite high-visibility shirts and armed with trolleys and cardboard boxes, we approached each vendor, who were mostly familiar with the routine and supportive of our cause. Their readiness to contribute reflects not only their goodwill but also their trust in SecondBite’s mission and its effectiveness in making a real difference.

The collected food was then carefully sorted, ensuring that only the best quality produce was kept to be passed on. We avoided perishables that we couldn't immediately distribute and focused on items that would offer nutritional value to the recipients. This meticulous process is crucial as it respects the dignity of those we aim to help, providing them with food that we ourselves would be happy to eat.

Sue and Reg Smith efficiently delivered two carloads of the collected food to the Salvation Army Kitchen for the homeless in Melbourne. This kitchen is a critical partner, helping to prepare and serve the food to those in need. The contributions from the Prahran Market vendors thus found their way to the plates of many, offering not just sustenance but also a message of community support and care.

Thank you Rotary Melbourne Reg Smith OAM Simone Carson AM for being the example of true leadership in this community.

The experience was not only a lesson in logistics and teamwork but also a profoundly humbling reminder of the community’s spirit and the difference a group of committed volunteers can make. As we interacted with people like Brian, a regular at the market, and the dedicated staff at the Salvation Army, it was clear that our actions were part of a larger, community-driven effort to combat food insecurity and waste.

SecondBite’s work with partners like the Prahran Market, Rotary, and the Salvation Army showcases a powerful model of how collaboration and compassion can address two significant issues: food waste and food insecurity. My first volunteering experience with SecondBite was not only rewarding but also inspiring, reinforcing the belief that every small action contributes to a larger change.