Volunteer-led NourishEd opens new Toronto West home after rapid growth

newy.com.au – NourishEd Australia has opened its new Toronto West premises after outgrowing its first home in less than two years, giving the Lake Macquarie charity more room for food relief, outreach and support services.

The ribbon-cutting marks the next stage for the volunteer-led organisation, which has moved into 6E Leo Lewis Close, Toronto. NourishEd says it provides food and education support to the Lake Macquarie community, with a focus on helping individuals and families access nourishing food and practical support.

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said the organisation had already become an important point of contact for people doing it tough, with its food pantry providing 2500 low-cost grocery hampers and more than 820 free hampers to people facing the most severe hardship.

More than 1700 people have visited NourishEd more than 7200 times, finding help through groceries, hot meals, support services or a conversation with volunteers. Mr Piper said the team, led by Nic Cade, had “created a safe and respectful space for some of the most vulnerable members of our community”.

The larger premises are expected to allow the charity to better accommodate clients and provide dedicated spaces for outreach and support services. NourishEd has described its broader aim as becoming a “hub of help” in Lake Macquarie, using food and pantry support as a way for people to connect with further assistance, services and workshops.

Its pantry service offers $5 and $10 hamper options, as well as a free open pantry stocked with items donated by the community, local businesses and other charities. The organisation says there are no other registration requirements for people seeking help beyond basic details such as name and suburb.

NourishED said on social media “This larger facility will allow us to significantly expand our impact. It gives us the capacity to grow our food relief programs, increase the number of people we support, create new opportunities for connection and launch additional services designed to address not only immediate needs but also the long-term challenges that many people face. We envision this becoming a true Hub of Help – a place where practical support, education, recovery programs, community services and genuine human connection come together under one roof. We’ve built spaces dedicated for external supports and hairdressing programs that we look forward to launching soon.”

The expansion comes as food relief services continue to respond to cost-of-living pressure. Foodbank’s 2025 Hunger Report found one in three Australian households, or nearly 3.5 million households, experienced food insecurity in the previous 12 months, with cost of living the top concern for 87 per cent of households.

Mr Piper congratulated the organisation on its new home, saying: “I know it will be a hub of care and kindness.” NourishEd can be contacted on 1800 37 11 66 or at info@nourished.org.au