Nearly 100 Canberra families are going without food every day, according to a VolunteeringACT survey of food relief service providers conducted in December 2025.

The survey canvassed food service providers across the ACT, ranging from large charities to small, volunteer-run street pantries with no formal funding. It found growing demand for food assistance as the cost of living increases, with many families unable to access help due to limited capacity.

One survey respondent said their organisation was struggling to meet demand due to space constraints.

“Our food pantry operates from a very small space, which significantly limits our capacity to store food and essential items,” the respondent said.

“While demand continues to increase, our physical space and resources restrict our ability to expand the service to a broader community at this time.”

VolunteeringACT chief executive Jean Giese said: “The continuing escalating demand and significant unmet need within the food relief sector is of grave concern.”

The findings follow the 2025 OzHarvest Community Needs Survey, which showed 37 per cent of people seeking food support in Canberra were doing so for the first time – the highest rate nationally.

According to VolunteeringACT, many food pantries are now being forced to turn families away. Two-thirds of organisations surveyed reported a 25 per cent increase in people accessing their services in 2025 compared with 2024.

Ms Giese said nearly all food relief providers are purchasing food using their own funds due to insufficient donations. On average, pantries are spending $8672 a month on groceries, almost 50 per cent more than in 2024.

The survey found 70 per cent of organisations believe government funding is not sufficient to meet demand, with only 30 per cent of ACT food relief organisations receiving any government funding.

VolunteeringACT noted the ACT Government is finalising a Food Relief Action Plan and a Food Bank Fund announced in the 2025-26 ACT Budget, but said further action is needed to address rising demand and food insecurity across the territory.