Food banks are community-based organizations that address food security at the local level. Food banks recover surplus food and redirect that food to those facing hunger.

Food banks are powered by women and are uniquely equipped to serve the needs of women and girls facing hunger.

From farmers to mothers to chefs to community leaders,

WOMEN ARE

HUNGER CHANGEMAKERS

Across the developing world

WOMEN MAKE UP

43%

of the
agriculture
labor force

As mothers,

Women influence

the nutrition and health

of their children and families.

Yet, of the 821 million

UNDERNOURISHED

people in the world

60%

ARE
WOMEN
& GIRLS

food banking empowers women
to lead, nourish & enact change

The mission of The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is to
alleviate global hunger by developing food banks in communities where
they are needed and by supporting food banks where they exist.

  • More than

    9

    million
    people

    in 30 countries
    are served by food
    banks in GFN.

  • 60%

    of food banking
    organizations
    served by GFN
    are led by women.

  • 55%

    of people served
    by GFN member
    food banks are
    women & girls.

  • 25%

    of food banks served by GFN offer meals to children facing hunger at school.

Food banks and their partnership
with women and girls are key
to achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals

Empowering women in leadership roles through food banking and increasing the food security of women and girls will play a pivotal role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals such as no poverty, zero hunger, quality education and gender equality.

  • NO POVERTY

    Women and girls, as income
    earners, put their money to good
    use. They are shown to reinvest
    90% back into their families.

  • ZERO HUNGER

    Women and girls are
    disproportionately affected
    by hunger.     Yet, as mothers and household decision-makers,
    women help determine the nutritional status of their children.     Women and girls, as leaders,
    advocate for hunger and
    food security change     in
    their communities.

  • Quality Education

    School feeding is a proven
    mechanism for improving school
    attendance for girls, increasing their
    chances of living a more productive
    and healthier life.     Educating women and girls in developing countries yielded
    a 43% reduction in hunger.

  • gender equality

    Women, when given the same
    resources as men, are a driving
    force against hunger,
    malnutrition and poverty.

  • RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
    AND PRODUCTION

    About one-third of food produced
    for human consumption
    worldwide is wasted or lost.     If
    even one-fourth of this wasted
    food were redirected, 870 million
    hungry people could be fed.
    Women play important roles to
    ensure food is not wasted     because
    of their roles in agrifood value
    chains and as managers of natural
    resources such as land and water.

MEET THE WOMEN

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS HUNGER CHANGEMAKERS
Sources:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Gender Equality and Food Security: Women’s Empowerment as a Tool Against Hunger, GFN Network Activity Report 2018, GFN Pulse Survey 2019, The State of Food and Agriculture 2010-2011: Women in Agriculture, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018, UN World Food Programme.

team member

Meher Satyen Dasondi, Director of Operations, Bangalore Food Bank

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. A: We have a built-in mechanism to avoid the unpleasant. I never realised the quantum of ‘hunger’ till I came face to face with it, seven years ago at a destitute home in Bengaluru. I thought to myself, does hunger smell? I could smell it. It shocked me. This visit left me with a lesson for life and a responsibility that ‘feeding the hungry is everyone’s social responsibility’.

Q: Who or what from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: My parents, my schooling and my own inherent conscience inspires me. Each played their own role in making me believe that one of the greatest gifts I had was the opportunity of education which equipped me to think equal, build myself to be smart and bring about the change I wanted to see in the world.

Q: What role do you think women and girls play in eradicating hunger? A: Only a woman can birth life, she is the ‘nurturer’. Women can be the game changers in eradicating hunger, because they have the power to sow the seeds of values and ethics for the future generations.

Q: What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: My mother and my family taught me the joy of sharing. My amazing teachers at school taught me to apply thought to everything. There are so many women I could name, but I will say this, it is the consciousness and spirit that I see almost daily in the ‘working women’ I meet, that inspires me to do more.

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person who would it be and why? A: I dedicate my work in hunger relief to two people. Both spread the same message through their own efforts, “to work honestly and selflessly”. The first, Mother Teresa, whom I had the opportunity to meet at a young age and the 2nd would have to be Mahatma Gandhi, and the principles of deep social thought he stood for.

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: Be courageous, believe in yourself, study well and build yourself to know that you can be anything you wish to be, because you can.

team member

Cynthia Trujillo, Leader, Madre de Fatima

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. A: The first time I really saw and understood the effects of hunger was right outside my window. I saw a child crying, he was with is mother and he was hungry. His mother cried back because she had nothing more to feed him than coffee and bread. She had to explain to her child that they had no money and they would have to wait until their father was home from work to feed them anything else.

Q: Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: My mother has always been my inspiration. When I was young, we lived in a village where we were the only home with electricity and running water. My mother always made a point to share our Good wealth with our neighbors by sharing what fresh fruit and vegetables we had with the other children, many of whom might not have eaten. Living in the village of San Benito Petén inspired me to be a better woman. I learned that I could help other people and make a difference, no matter the size.

Q: What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? A: Women are very important in this aspect. We are the base in which the family puts its trust. There is the idea that we know how to cook and that we share our knowledge with our families. We are givers. We know who needs our support and how to give when it is needed.

Q: What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: I have always been inspired by the work of Mother Teresa, as well as my own mother. Both taught me never to be afraid and to fight for other people without a voice. The happiness I see one the faces of those that I have helped, inspires me to fight for my community without asking for anything in return. That is why the work of Mother Theresa is so inspiring, no matter how sick she became or the challenges she faced, she would always support someone in need.

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person who would it be and why? A: I cannot dedicate my work just to one person, because I dedicate my work to the children I serve in the “Kitchen of Love”. My dream is that one day I will be able to feed any hungry child in my community before they leave for school and when they get home from school. This project and these children are my dream, to see my community without hunger.

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: I would tell her that she should enjoy being a girl and that she should always dream. She must dream about what she intends to do and what she plans to do, because it will be worth it. Never stop dreaming!

team member

Brianna Casey, Chief Executive Officer, Foodbank Australia

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. A: I spent the first 15 years of my career in the Australian agriculture sector, during a series of devastating droughts. Farmers and rural communities are incredibly resilient, but prolonged periods of low-income were taking a toll on these communities and I was hearing first-hand stories of people prioritizing feeding their animals over themselves.

I was blown away that this could be happening in the ‘lucky country’ and ashamed that it had taken me so long to wake up to what was happening in my own backyard.

Q: Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: As the mother of two healthy, active boys, I know first-hand how important it is to provide them with fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy food to sustain their growing bodies and minds. This should not be a luxury. It is a basic human right. Yet 1 in 5 Australian children has experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months. That is a shameful statistic, and one that I am determined to change for the better. As a food banker, it brings me endless joy to know that we are helping Australian parents fill their children’s lunchboxes and provide them with healthy breakfasts, but we have so much more work to do.

Q: What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? A: Women and girls are crucial to eradicating hunger across the globe. Whether on-farm, in the food manufacturing and education sectors, or in the home, women are playing an increasingly prominent role in championing sustainable agricultural practices and improved food and nutrition literacy. We are fortunate in Australia to have so many women leading peak bodies so pivotal to eradicating hunger, such as the National Farmers’ Federation, Australian Food and Grocery Council and Australian Council of Social Service (as well as Foodbank Australia!).

Q: What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: Three women have helped motivate and inspire my passion for advocacy and social justice. The President of the National Farmers’ Federation, Fiona Simson, has been a trailblazer for rural women, demonstrating the importance of evidence-based policy and passionate advocacy in championing the vibrant, dynamic and successful industry that is agriculture in Australia.
The Vice President of the Australian Childcare Alliance, Nesha Hutchinson, continues to be a strong advocate for high quality education and care for children in Australia, helping them get the best possible start to their lives.
Most recently, the President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network, Lisa Moon, has demonstrated the power of collaboration and providing a voice for the voiceless. All three are extraordinary role models for women and girls.

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person who would it be and why? A: I can’t possibly choose just one person! I want both of my children to know that my work on hunger relief is dedicated to them. They are the center of my universe and remind me every day why I do what I do. I want them to grow up with a strong sense of fairness and social justice. I want them to know that mums (all women) can do anything and that whether they are working hard at home or away from home, in paid or unpaid work, women are valued, respected and inspiring. I want them to spark conversations about poverty and inequality amongst their peers, and to challenge assumptions about the world we live in.

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: By coincidence, we have a truly inspirational 10-year-old girl who has just become Foodbank Australia’s first ever Youth Ambassador. Alice is not only passionate about Foodbank’s work in hunger relief but has been motivated to be part of it.
She and I talk often about how just one person can create positive ripples of change, how just one girl can motivate others and how just one girl can start a movement. With 4 million Australians affected by food insecurity at some point throughout the year, we can’t solve this problem by ourselves. But girls like Alice who are naturally curious, care deeply about others and find or create a community of like-minded peers who are determined to make a difference show me that we’re already changing the world for the better.

team member

Carol Criner, Director, The Global FoodBanking Network

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. A: I first experienced the effects of hunger during a visit to Cambodia. Our team spent a day with families living near and amongst giant piles of trash; carefully sorting for items of value. I noticed a young woman with three children sitting quietly in the corner. I smiled and she motioned me to take a seat. Through our translator, I quickly learned we shared the same birth month and year. As I listened to her story, I realized the fragile line separating our life experience was country of birth and education. Meaning, we were kindred women. This young woman and the impact of that conversation has served as a reminder of my responsibility to engage in service. And, a pre-requisite of education includes solving basic needs; hunger.

Q: Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: Growing-up in North Carolina, my parents set the example of service. My interest in hunger stems from wanting to see women globally have equal access to education and this requires addressing hunger. I am inspired by the work of The Global FoodBanking Network and reminded of our annual visits as a Board to local food banking partners globally. During our visit to Guatamala last year, we visited a food distribution community center. Meeting these families and listening to the stories of how food banking is transforming lives is inspiring.

Q: What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? A: Gender equality, food security and sustainable economic development are dependent priorities. In each country I visit, I observe women as leaders in communities and families. However, their impact is reduced by lack the time and resources. Our challenge is to rapidly empower women with equal access to resources. Equality is not just about empowering women--it’s about ending hunger and poverty for everyone.

Q: What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: I am the daughter of first generation, college educated parents in North Carolina who emphasized education and service. My mother is a “force”. She is my role model.

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person who would it be and why? A: I view any time I spend on the cause of ending hunger through food banking my responsibility to contribute to our global community. I respectfully substitute “dedicate” with “responsibility”.

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: I encourage you to use your voice and share your unique experiences. Even if you’re the only female voice in a family, classroom, or meeting, share your perspectives boldly.

team member

Nichol Ng, Co-Founder, The Food Bank Singapore

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. A: I once starved myself for 5 days when I was 14 Years old during my dark battle with Bulimia. In that depravation mode, I started to wonder what about those who were starving without a choice. How would they function in school or at work without food?

Q: Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: My late father always said we are in the food distribution business and it absolutely makes no sense for us to be stingy with food. Therefore, he was always advocating feeding others in general especially those that could not afford the nice meals that our family enjoyed.
He would say “It’s only food. Everyone should be able to enjoy this necessity.”

Q: What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? A: It is important to acknowledge that women are genetically customized different from men and we should use that to our advantage.
Our nurturing nature – Deciding how to feed a more nutritious diet.
Our protective instinct – Detecting if a child or someone weaker than us needs help.
Our culinary skills – Creating innovative foods from whatever little that we have.
Our intuition– Simply knowing that more needs to done.
Feeding the world not just with food but with kindness. Eradicating hunger is not just about filling tummies, it’s also about nourishing souls.

Q: What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: It was fellow GFN food bank leaders that encouraged me to do this work and to get going with our mission despite being a relatively small food bank. I think the community and family of food banks that we have built in recent years has created an invisible comradery between us that inspires me daily to better myself and my mission.

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person who would it be and why? A: I would dedicate my work to my brood of 3 kids because everything that we do today really is to build a better life for the humanity of tomorrow. I hope one day that my children will pick up where I cannot complete and continue our fight in ending hunger.

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: Love yourself the way you are inside and out because having that confidence will pave the way for greater things to come. The sky is not the limit simply because the stars lay in the galaxy for your taking! Do not underestimate the power of being a woman and have fun along the way!

team member

Natascha Hinsch, Executive Director, Red de Bancos de Alimentos Argentina

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. A: Argentina is a country of large social inequalities and a very high poverty rate. As an adolescent I collaborated as a volunteer in different social organizations in very vulnerable sectors of the country. For many children I interacted with, the plate of food they received in the soup kitchen was all they would eat during that day.

Q: Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: The social injustice in my country. Argentina produces food for 400 million people, at the same time, 30 percent of the population does not have access to the quality and quantity of food they need for a healthy diet. This is outrageous to me.

Q: What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? A: Women have a fundamental role in the fight against hunger since we are the first educators of our children and we are responsible for feeding children during their first years of lives. If we educate girls so that they understand the importance of a healthy diet during the first year of a baby's life, I am sure that when they become mothers, they will feed their children as best they can, avoiding the effects of hunger and its consequences.

Q: What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: My mom was an amazing example and leader in the fight against social inequalities. She was the founder of a social organization that provided support and food to low-income children after school. Her work to help ensure these families had a better life was very inspiring.

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person who would it be and why? A: To Noemí, the cook at the soup kitchen I worked for. She has dedicated her life to cooking daily to feed hundreds of underprivileged children, putting her heart and soul into the task and always trying to learn how to make the best of all the products she received to make the most nutritious dishes.

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: Keep your eyes and heart very open to the needs of those around you. Always be curious and mindful of our planet.

team member

Lindsey Cape, Head of Fundraising, FareShare

Q: Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger.  A: From a young age I was aware at school that not everyone had the same food, but I didn’t understand the full concept of poverty and hunger. I raised money for charities like Save the Children throughout my childhood, as my parents introduced me to fundraising and I learned from them about inequality.

Q: Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? A: My mother, who taught me from a young age to help those less fortunate and who at 85 years old still volunteers at an after-school club that supports and feeds vulnerable children.  

Q: What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? A: Improving women’s social and economic status in their homes and in their communities has a direct impact on food security and nutrition around the world. The evidence is there that empowering women and educating women results in improved wellbeing for children, households and communities. 

What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why? A: I’m a passionate fundraiser, I realized early in my career this is how I can make the biggest impact to fight food poverty. Many women have inspired me but one that stands out is the late Dame Jane Tomlinson, who was a brilliant fundraiser and in the face of adversity, raised millions of pounds to help other people. 

Q: If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person, who would it be and why? A: It would be my mother but not only her, it would be to all the amazing volunteers in every country, who give up their time to help others. At FareShare we couldn’t do our work in the UK without dedicated and hardworking volunteers.  

Q: If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? A: Work hard, value your education, be kind and help others. Value yourself and the contribution you can make to the world. That’s more than one message, but all equally important.

team member

Debbie Spurrel-Taylor, Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank

Tell us about the first time you experienced or saw the devastating effects of hunger. My mother used to say, “eat all your supper there are starving people in the world”. Even then, I didn’t fully understand it. The first time I saw hunger I was in grade 8. I had a new friend named Katy and visited her home. I noticed Katy’s home had dirt floors and only one bedroom for the entire family. Their meals consisted mostly of pasta and potatoes, with not much meat. It was then I understood.
Poverty hit me personally in 1988 when I left my first husband, with my three girls. I worked in a factory and found it tough to make ends meet. That was when I discovered the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. The food bank helped me feed and support my family during those tough times.

Who or what, from your personal life, inspires you to work to address hunger? In 1997 my new husband was working for the Ottawa Food Bank. Through the food bank, I met Tom Jackson and his wife, Alison Jones. There I became involved in the Huron Carole, a Canadian touring musical production which raises donations for local food banks. Tom and Alison were hugely inspiring to me not just because their fame, but because they used their influence to help end hunger.

What role do you think women and girls can play in eradicating hunger? Women traditionally are the nurturers, the cooks and the caregivers. I believe those roles are essential to a community, but women and girls also have even more to give and to learn. Women can become (and already are) leaders in their communities to help end hunger. Women play important roles in all the steps that are required to end hunger.

What women have inspired you to do the work you do and why?  There have been lots of women in my life that have inspired me. The first and foremost is my mother. She always showed kindness, sharing and concern for others. I have tried to do this in my own life, especially while raising my children.
Another inspiring woman for me is June Anderson. June is the Spiritual Care Provider at the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. In 2009, my family moved back to Cambridge and we found ourselves needing the support of the food bank again. June took me under her umbrella of love and protection and was an amazing support to me and got me through so much, including a suicide in my family. Many other women at the food bank have also inspired me including Dianne Mcleod, Laura Johnson and Siobhan Bonisteel.

If you could dedicate your work on hunger relief to one person, who would it be and why? If I could dedicate my work on hunger relief to one person, it would be Siobhan Bonisteel. Siobhan is the Food Procurement & Local Food Development Manager for the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. Siobhan has been the encouragement I needed to boost my confidence, to come out of my comfort zone and to expand my talents.  

If you can communicate one message to a 10-year-old girl, what would it be? I would tell her to be true to herself! Don’t let others talk you into something that is against your nature. Respect yourself enough to say no.