A ticket, a trolley and time to choose
How ASRC volunteers help uphold dignity through choice, care and welcome
When much of life feels uncertain, choosing what your family will eat is one small but important decision that should still be yours.
At the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in Footscray, people accessing the foodbank register when they arrive, receive a colour-coded ticket and wait until their turn is called.
Then they take a trolley and move through the shelves at their own pace, choosing pantry items, toiletries and fresh produce that suit their household. Only a few people enter the food area at a time, so no one needs to crowd around the shelves, rush their choices or feel they must compete with others.
Everyone deserves access to food that is fresh, nutritious and high quality, with the freedom to choose what suits them best and this is just what is offered at the ASRC Foodbank.
Photo description: Shelves stocked with groceries and everyday essentials in the ASRC foodbank.
Behind this calm and carefully organised experience are volunteers who check supplies, sort donations, clean and restock shelves, prepare the space and welcome each person when their turn arrives.
We spoke with several volunteers across the ASRC Foodbank and Community Kitchen. Each had a different story and reason for becoming involved. Two conversations stayed with us because they showed two very different ways volunteering can become part of someone’s life.
Laura: Living her values in a new chapter
Three years old. That was Laura’s age when she arrived in Australia from Italy.
Photo description: Laura, who has volunteered with the ASRC foodbank for 10 years.
She grew up in Melbourne’s west at a time when racism towards Italian migrants was common. She went on to become a teacher, raise five children and become a grandmother. After retiring, she wanted to put her values into action by being part of a community where people feel supported and included.
Laura found that purpose at the ASRC Foodbank, where she has now volunteered for 10 years and become a volunteer team leader.
Today, she sees families sharing a warm, freshly prepared meal before choosing groceries to take home. Some of the children seem to know the centre well, making their way comfortably towards the play and reading areas while their parents shop.
As Laura spoke about these families, her eyes filled with tears. Seeing children relaxed and happy, while their families enjoy a meal together and take home the food they need, is one of the moments that makes her volunteering especially meaningful.
For Laura, volunteering means helping create a place where every family is met with dignity, care and a sense that they belong.
Maria: A familiar place, a new role
Maria seemed hesitant when we first approached her, so we returned when the kitchen was quieter. Gradually, she began to share a little about herself.
Photo description: Maria volunteers in the ASRC Community Kitchen.
Originally from Indonesia, Maria first came to the ASRC many years ago to learn English. The centre was already familiar when she later began volunteering in the Community Kitchen, where she now helps prepare meals every Monday and Friday.
Maria told us that volunteering makes her happy. She is still quiet, and she does not need to change who she is to be part of the team. In the kitchen, people connect through shared routines and practical tasks, not only through conversation.
Many people may hesitate to volunteer because they might be shy or still building their English. Maria’s story shows that they can begin as they are. The right role can offer a comfortable way to participate, meet others and make a valued contribution.
ASRC: 25 years of community support
At its Footscray centre, the ASRC provides free community lunches and access to groceries through its Foodbank every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Its food support reaches around 900 individuals each month in the foodbank, while up to 200 people share a community meal in the centre each day.
Behind this work is a team of seven staff and around 120 volunteers.
Across the ASRC, more than 500 volunteers contribute to food support, healthcare, legal assistance, education, employment and other essential services. Over the past 25 years, the ASRC has supported more than 26,000 people seeking asylum and their families.
This impact is built through everyday acts of care, from preparing meals and restocking shelves to teaching English, sharing professional skills and welcoming people through the door.
If you would like to contribute your time and skills to a community where people seeking asylum feel welcome and supported, explore the ASRC’s current volunteer opportunities.