Food Not Bombs Hobart

This week felt like one of those weeks where a lot of small threads came together.

The partnership with the New Sydney Hotel finally came to fruition, with Ash providing the first of what we hope will become a regular curry contribution for the Shared Table. Then, unexpectedly, Pulse News released a story about it. The response online was remarkable. Thousands of people saw the story, hundreds interacted with it, and many took the time to leave encouraging comments. For a small volunteer-run community effort, moments like this matter because they help people realise they are not alone in caring about their neighbours.

A Missing Link

Earlier this week, I was singing in Glenorchy when I met Brittany.

She had recently started attending a local church and had been enjoying the music, but felt shy about joining in. So we sang together right there on the street.

It was a small moment. No stage. No audience. No organised program.

Yet it left me wondering whether singing might be a missing link in how we support people. When people sing together, barriers seem to fall away. Conversation becomes easier. Loneliness loosens its grip. Confidence grows.

Many support services focus on problems that need solving. Singing reminds us that sometimes people simply need a reason to stand beside one another.

Walking Beside People

A person arrived at the Shared Table on Saturday needing support.

What struck me most was not what happened next, but who made it happen.

The community noticed. People talked. People assessed the situation. Without instruction or hierarchy, they organised themselves around the question: “How can we help?”

I responded with some camping equipment that had been awkwardly floating around in my van for months. It turned out I had been carrying it for exactly the right moment.

We drove out to the bush, walked around looking for a suitable place, sat together, talked, and spent some time there. As the person was Aboriginal, it felt important not simply to drop them somewhere, but to spend time together and offer a genuine welcome and conversation.

The next day I drove back into town looking for them to check in.

The gratitude was palpable.

The experience reinforced something I have been learning repeatedly over the years. Support often begins when we are willing to walk in someone’s shoes for a while. Not just provide a service. Not just hand over an item. Not just point someone in the right direction.

Actually walk with them.

Thank You

This week reminded me how many people quietly make this work possible.

Thank you to Shoko, whose efforts helped generate a large amount of donated food and supplies this week.

Thank you to Foodbank Tasmania, not only for the food itself but for building a relationship where special requests can be discussed. Being able to source food that meets the dietary requirements of vulnerable people makes a real difference.

Thank you to Pulse News for the surprise article. I may not have been photographed from my best angle, but the story helped shine a light on the work of many volunteers.

Thank you to Ash and the New Sydney Hotel for sponsoring a regular curry contribution for the Shared Table.

Thank you to Dave for the machine donation.

Thank you to Fleur from Return2Community for helping restock the Really Free Market with clothing and practical supplies for people doing it tough.

Thank you to every volunteer who cooked, sorted food, rescued supplies, welcomed guests, packed boxes, drove vehicles, cleaned up, and showed up.

And thank you to everyone who follows, comments, shares, and encourages us online.

Social media can sometimes feel insignificant, but your support helps more than you know. It provides moral encouragement. It reminds volunteers that they are not working alone. It shows there is a significant movement of people who believe vulnerable members of our community matter and deserve to be supported.

As always, we continue one small project at a time.

— Christiaan

• Notes From The Field: Week ending Sun 13th Sep 2026 – Small threads come together
• Where We Started: The Old FNB Hobart Website Homepage
• Homeless Support Matteress
• StreetShelter: A Reflection on Shelter, Dignity and Mutual Aid
• Welcome to Food Not Bombs Hobart