A Spicy Day at the Food Pantry! My $10 Food Bank Haul in Queensland, Australia (September 2024)

[@jennyhosack2775]

This is a really beautiful haul, thank you for sharing!

[@makingendsmeet]

You are so welcome Jenny😊💕 Thanks so much for watching!

[@sherriekemper1828]

I bet that lasagna was delicious, it certainly looked beautiful. Lots of yummy things this trip and some lovely produce. Enjoy it all.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Sherrie🥰 Yes, it turned out to be quite tasty!

[@michelle10261]

Great to see Aussie’s out there

[@makingendsmeet]

Hi Michelle😊 Thanks so much for watching. Hope you're having a nice weekend💕

[@jeanz3622]

Delicious looking lasagna. What a great haul.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Jean😊💕

[@dorisrougvie1793]

First time watching from Bonnie Scotland ,nice variety of food 😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@makingendsmeet]

G'day over there Doris and welcome! Thank you😊💕

[@lisacorley1626]

What a lovely thoughtful box 🎁 this week I love hearing your energy and excitement 💝 some lovely meals have a lovely week 😊use them plant based chicken with your chicken tonight quick meal with rice or pasta 😊❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Lisa🥰 That's a great idea! Have a lovely week too💕

[@margaretbagur3553]

You got some really nice things. With your skill at stretching everything you'll be able to get some great meals going. I made your bean stew recipe. No choko (spelling?) I don't know what that is but I added one strip of bacon to the onion and some butternut squash. It had the most wonderful flavor and was filling even after a hard days work. A great budget stretcher.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Margaret😊💕 Yes, is definitely such a great help with meals to receive. Oh I'm so glad to hear that you tried my baked bean stew and liked it-your additions of bacon and butternut squash sounds delicious!

[@amiestafford7340]

I love Butter Beans!!

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, me too!!😋

[@kathleentanner343]

Such a wonderful variety there MEM !!!

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes indeed! Thanks so much Kathie. Hope you're having a good weekend my friend🥰

[@janecannon5567]

I bet that was nice to get those spices.

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, was so amazing!!

[@janecannon5567]

@makingendsmeet I know they said some spices that there is a shortage so there goes the price. The food recalls are awful. Saying human waste and run offs we read. Today is Wes's birthday.

[@makingendsmeet]

Best wishes Wes💕 Hope he has a lovely day! 🎉

[@wandaspinney6568]

Wow your lasagna looks delicious. A great haul with lots of options. Enjoy 😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Wanda🥰

[@robertadunaway7030]

Lovely selection this week.

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes it was! Thanks so much Roberta😊💕

[@cathecavalle1016]

P.S. Spices really do perk up a meal. In America, cilantro is the fresh green plant and coriander is the ground seeds. I only just learned that 😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Oh, that's good to know! I always love learning little things like that😊

[@donnadelong2781]

Some nice things for meals.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Donna🥰 Yes, will be an awesome help with meals that's for sure!

[@22lilacsky]

USA here, just found your channel. It's interesting to see what other countries are getting from their pantries and food banks. We don't have to pay for our free food here but it looks like the ten dollars you paid was well worth it. I would say it beats going to the grocery store. Everything is so expensive now! Your food haul is very similar to ours here in the states. Today we got a twelve pack of pork loins/pork chops, pack of bacon, deli ham, rice , pasta and the canned veggies of course. We get sweets sometimes like cookies and cakes which is nice. We did get a big bag of candy today. haha. I do wish we would get more fresh veggies and fruits, we did get a bag of potatoes today though. I'm always grateful for whatever we get. If something is going to spoil soon we give it to the stray animals that we take care of so nothing goes to waste. Blessings to you!

[@makingendsmeet]

G'day over there Ronni and welcome! Thanks, yes it really is a huge help to get what we do. I always find it's well worth the $10 I pay. That's interesting to hear what you received-potatoes are always so versatile. Blessings to you too! 😊💕

[@evelynmcdonald9981]

Nice haul!!!❤❤❤❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Evelyn!🥰

[@bettyhowatt8167]

Awesome haul!

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Betty😊💕 It really was a helpful haul!

[@pattimorgan9795]

Wow❣️ what a fantastic haul this week ❣️ those spices❣️ I’ve never seen you get those. Just wonderful array of different items. Enjoy❣️ i hope you have a fabulous week 😊😘

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Patti. Yes, it was so wonderful to receive those spices!! Hope you have a fabulous week this coming week too🥰

[@aidenalamo6262]

I bought a Vegemite squeezy bottle filled with the Vegemite goodness inside. I love vegemite cheese toasties.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Aiden😊💕 Oh yum! Sounds good to me too!😋

[@muttersmenu2422]

Great selection of pantry items and fresh produce for $10.00.😊 Never seen the bean pasta sheets in WA. Enjoy the meals with the family ✔️ Good video 👍🥗

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much my friend🥰

[@cathecavalle1016]

That is quite a nice haul for sure 👍. I am always amazed at the meals you create from such diverse ingredients. It is finally cooling down here in the desert. Unlike most of America,we are just now planting our garden. I hope you have a successful garden this summer. My husband loves bread pudding. I bet your kids quite enjoy it too. ❤from Cathe in Arizona.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Cathe🥰 Thanks so much my friend. What will you be planting this season? Will you plant some more tomatoes or something different? Hope you have a successful garden and bumper crops too! Yes the kids love 'eggy' things like French toast and bread pudding😋 Have a wonderful week over there💕

[@hollygirl1955]

What a great haul. Such a blessing. Two jars of tahini! I can’t even afford one haha😂

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Lisa! Thank you. Yes, getting those two jars of tahini was amazing!! Is so so helpful😊💕

[@dawnfinch8232]

A great haul there ❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Dawn🥰

[@nicolecoburn8365]

amazing haul

[@makingendsmeet]

Thank you! 🤗

[@kathleenlangstaff5039]

Great haul. Hope you are "making ends meet" after the recent foodbank closing.😮

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Kathleen. We're managing, thankfully. We're very fortunate to still have our regular food bank for bread, and this Friday food pantry is an immense help too😊

[@sallyethridge1393]

Everything looks great. Have a wonderful week.

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Sally😊💕 You too!

[@loisferguson5132]

Your lasagne looks delicious!😋

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Lois 😊💕 It was very tasty!😋

[@ellalella1]

Hope you have a good week! The spices were such a greath thing to get. I really like cumin too. We had our first two days of snow this week. November wanted to show us that it is indeed a winter month... Oh well, it is set to be milder soon and the snow will disappear but it will come again just as surely.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Elin! Thanks my friend🥰 Yes, I was so delighted to receive those spices, especially the cumin! Oh wow, and so it begins... ❄️ the first taste of winter! 🌨️ Hope you have a good weekend too💕

[@TexasTweed]

Hello ! 👋. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Wow 😮 $10.00 got you a fantastic box of things . That lasagna looked scrumptious ! Hope you and your family have a wonderful week . 🤠👍💕

[@makingendsmeet]

Oh thanks so much Felicia. Have a wonderful week too my friend🥰

[@jeannedenault9352]

That was a nice haul for $10! The spices alone are more expensive than that. Have a great week ❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Jeanne🥰 Yes, I was so happy to get those spices! Hope you have a great weekend too💕

[@kerrijones719]

Hi Mem, great haul and lots of meal options. Have a great week. 😊🎉❤

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Kerri🥰 Hope you're having a nice evening and have a great week this next week too!

[@sallygordin2869]

Hi Mem. Very nice haul. How wonderful to get all the spices. Have a blessed week friend 😊

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Sally😊 Thanks so much. Was so wonderful indeed! Having spices to cook with makes a huge difference, will be so helpful. Have a great week too my friend💕

[@Al........]

Hope you're all doing well. Don't know how I managed to miss your video until today. What a lovely haul, so good for you to get different things like the tahini and spices, your lasagna looked amazing. It's just over 3 weeks until we go away, just discovered red bananas are in season in the Canary Islands, although I'm not a big fan of bananas. Are the kids looking forward to the holidays, I guess it's not long before they break up? Have a lovely weekend, hope you're getting lots of sunshine. X

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Al! We're going good, thanks. Hope you both are too😊 That's all good, not to worry, I know how easy it is to miss things-life gets busy! Thank you, it was fun to get some new ingredients like the tahini and spices. And the lasagna was a hit! Wow, only three weeks until your trip-that's so exciting! Red bananas in the Canary Islands sound interesting, even if you're not a huge banana fan. As for the kids, they are definitely counting down to the school holidays-there's five weeks left until their summer break. Hope you're having a lovely weekend too, and yes, we’ve been definitely been getting plenty of sunshine, temps here are around 34-35°C at the moment🌞 Take care and enjoy the countdown to your holiday🥰

[@mjking6162]

We cook up macaroni or any pasta, brown ground beef with onions and stir in a can of tomatoes or tomato soup. If you have a box of macaroni and cheese, use the soup in place of the butter and milk but still add the cheese powder. It really stretches the Mac and cheese and makes it filling.

[@makingendsmeet]

Oh that sounds great (and easy to make)! Thanks so much for the tasty suggestions MJ😊💕

[@sussanlondry6445]

What an amazing haul of groceries my friend, well worth the $10 so happy for you and the family.Take care love from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 👍❤️

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks so much Sussan🥰 Yes, it really was a fantastic value lot this time around!

[@debbieframpton3857]

You were blessed with the food items you got this week

[@makingendsmeet]

So blessed indeed! 😊💕

[@catherinebarlow3079]

You could make a banana loaf with some of banana and you got lots this week as well hope you have great week

[@makingendsmeet]

Sounds like a tasty idea, yum!😋 Thanks so much Catherine, hope you have a wonderful week this next week too😊💕

[@DebbieM1140]

❤

[@makingendsmeet]

🥰😘

[@nneichan9353]

when we talk of cilantro in the states we mean the plant. the seeds are still coriander.

[@virginialynch7207]

Thus was terrific

[@makingendsmeet]

Thanks Virginia😊💕 Yes, it certainly was a terrific blessing and help to receive.

[@Gardeningchristine]

I thought you meant the weather was hot at the food pantry. That’s what I say when it’s really hot out, that it’s spicy 🌶️ out. 😅

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Christine! Hehe lol! 😄😊💕

[@harbourchick5]

Wonderful to get the spices. I recently had to restock my spices. I was shocked at the cost. Thank heavens they last so long

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, it was so amazing to get those spices!! So awesome and helpful to get!😊💕

[@janecannon5567]

That was a lot of food

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, it was a great week at the food pantry! 😊💕

[@gloriaandrejcik9787]

What a nice assortment! Glad to see you! How is the gardening going this year?

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Gloria! Thanks my friend🥰 I'm still picking silverbeet (swiss chard), kale, spring onions, basil, parsley and my new favourite at the moment, Thai long green eggplant from the garden. I plan to plant some cucumbers soon too. Hopefully I'll have a garden update video for you all before the year's out!

[@tammybowen5307]

😊❤❤❤❤😊

[@makingendsmeet]

🥰💕

[@lisalovatt7246]

Those multi tomatoes are my favourite

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, they were really nice 😊😋

[@sandytmobile4467]

It's freezing cold in Oregon USA. Lettuce, garlic, onions, leeks, cabbage inn snow on top of hill's and earthquake hit coast line still not the big one yet. Oh have to test eggs stores been saling bad one's.

[@makingendsmeet]

Hey Sandy!😊 Stay safe over there my friend 💕

[@inkheart1954]

Tahini and chic peas blended for humus

[@makingendsmeet]

Sounds like a great idea, yum!😋

[@kerryb1234]

It’s crazy how different areas differ in price, in Toowoomba these hampers at one location are $30, another location it’s $60. We also don’t get as much as this but it depends on what’s donated each week. On top of that if you want a fresh hamper only I think they are now $15. I feel like you got a good selection of cooking ingredients too, we unfortunately have to pay extra for those kinds of items or anything else not in the hamper.

[@TheLifeOfAliInAustralia]

Have you tried watching Nyssa from our small footprint? She is about an hour from Toowoomba and accesses a pantry for $40 plus extra gold coin for large quantities of fresh produce... it may be something to look into

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, it’s wild how much prices can vary, even within the same region. I guess it all depends on what’s donated and how things are run locally. We’re lucky to have found this church-run food pantry-it’s such a huge help getting pantry staples along with fresh fruit, veggies, and cold items. I really hope the hampers where you are improve too, especially given the cost. You definitely deserve more for what you’re paying!

[@heatherbrown3685]

Okay so I don't want to sounds mean, but how does the whole paying at the food bank thing work? Because honestly as an American our food banks are free, but I actually think it's kind of brilliant to charge a little bit not you know a ton of money but $5 $10, my business coach calls it "putting skin in the game" I just think that we would see two things happen. First the likelihood of people going and taking the food who don't really need it would likely be lowered, but second even if it wasn't lowered at least the food bank is getting money that they can then turn around and buy more food in bulk to be able to give out. So I don't really see a downside to it. I don't know I just very interesting. And the fact that you have seasonings in your box is amazing because a single container of seasoning can run you $5 to $10 especially those big ones. Anyway I don't know I just was curious if there was any backlash on them starting to charge for boxes of food or if that's something that Australia has always done or how that came about because again I think that would be a really smart way to do things in the US.

[@makingendsmeet]

G'day Heather! You're fortunate indeed to have food banks like that over there. That must be a big help to many people and families. There are some food banks and pantries that offer food completely for free here too, though in Queensland where I am it seems to be quite common for charity organisations to offer a hamper or box of groceries for a low cost to those in need of the assistance. This food pantry I go to on Fridays is run by a local church in my area. As far as I know they've always had a charge on their food parcels. And you'd be correct, because my understanding too is that the $10 I pay is used towards them purchasing any extra goods that may not be covered by their own church funds and donations already and for things like the cost of fuel, electricity for refrigeration/freezers etc. to store the food. Here in Australia there is a larger charity organisation actually called 'Foodbank', which has warehouses enabling smaller charities access to groceries donated by supermarkets, businesses and farmers, some of which I believe may still have a charge to them, so I'm sure it helps with those costs as well. And yes, that was so amazing to receive those spices! They're going be so useful! These low cost food parcels are definitely a brilliant idea and benefit so many. Thanks so much for watching and your great questions😊💕

[@heatherbrown3685]

@makingendsmeet awesome, thanks for all the info!

[@scarlettwitman2028]

I thought food banks were free?

[@makingendsmeet]

Yes, some food banks do provide food for free, but it's also quite common here in SE Queensland to find organizations and charities that offer low-cost food parcels as well😊

[@njsmkmmsthatsit3518]

@@makingendsmeet We live on the far south coast of NSW, almost in VIC. My 21 year old son started volunteering here at our food bank. Otherwise I would have never known about it at all. It's not church run but there's a church run one about 30 minutes drive away. We do pay for what ever we get at our local one but it's a very small amount. They often have free items, bread, bread products and bakery items are normally free because there are just so many of them. Then allot are collected and used for animal feed after that. Then if theres donated produce that is excess and hasn't been given away those will be donated for animal feed too. As we live in a more rural area farmers have offered meat, chicken and eggs but unfortunately those things cannot be sold in the pantries in NSW. Our pantry has to purchase most of what they get from some kind of food bank, I believe its in Sydney. We buy individual items. They don't have boxes like are shown here. I have just found this channel and have been watching some of the boxes you get. Super interesting how different places do things. Thanks so much for sharing makingendsmeet..... Also love your cooking segments. It's a real skill being able to cook from random items, especially if you don't pick them yourself. Very well done.

[@makingendsmeet]

@njsmkmmsthatsit3518 G'day and welcome! I agree, it’s always interesting to hear about how different food banks operate. Thanks for sharing how things work at your local one - sounds like bread donations are quite abundant in your area. It's great the way your food bank down there makes use of the excess bread and produce for animal feed so nothing goes to waste. It’s unfortunate about the meat and eggs, but it’s good to see that they work hard to get supplies from Sydney so they can provide more affordable food options for people. And it's so awesome that your son is volunteering!😊 Thanks so much for watching, I'm so glad you've been enjoying the videos. I appreciate your kind words very much😊💕