Amy’s story – From workplace deliveries to family stability
When Amy and her family migrated from New Zealand to Australia, they were hopeful for a fresh start. But the transition proved harder than expected. With a single income and four growing children – two of whom have additional care needs – the family quickly faced financial strain.
During the most difficult years, Amy’s priority was always her children’s wellbeing. Often at the expense of her own.
“I’d skip two meals a day… I’d have a smaller portion of dinner compared to everybody else, so that they could still get breakfast, lunch and dinner…I would be lucky if I had a pack of noodles for dinner.”
Food insecurity became a constant pressure and the emotional toll was just as heavy. Her children, especially the older two we’re aware of her sacrifices and worried about her health.
“Because of the kids and medical things, we used to struggle to provide healthy meals all the time. It was always the quick and easy options, packet meals and stuff like that, which weren’t very healthy. Since The One Box has come along, we’ve improved a lot. There’s so much variety in the boxes, and now I know the kids are able to take fruit to school instead of me having to say, ‘Sorry, we’ve got no fruit.’…”
When Amy’s school connected her with The One Box in 2023, things began to shift. Regular weekly boxes of fresh fruit, vegetables and bread brought a sense of possibility and peace of mind, not just for Amy and her partner, but for her children.
“Before The One Box the children struggled to concentrate… they were moody because they were hungry… With The One Box, we started seeing the change – they were full, had a decent sleep, and their attitude towards school and learning changed a lot.”
The regular and reliable support offered by The One Box gave Amy the breathing room to start rebuilding emotionally and financially. The family began sharing mealtimes again and even exploring new recipes together.
“Feeding a family of six gets quite stressful but knowing that support is there makes a big difference. We’re also cooking more as a family now. We make more shared decisions around food. My two younger ones love cooking with us, they see what’s in The One Box and say, ‘This week we’ve got zucchini, so let’s make zucchini fettuccine.’ We even make our own pasta now, which we never used to do. It’s definitely brought us a lot closer as a family.”
Beyond food relief, The One Box connected Amy to her school’s wellbeing team, creating new pathways to support her children’s additional needs and address her own mental health.
“I spoke to the school, and they turned around and put me on some awesome programs that not only help my son, but to help myself… I wouldn’t know who to turn to if it wasn’t for The One Box.”
By 2024, Amy could see how far they’d come. Her eldest child had started part-time work, and slowly but proudly the family was able to start saving for their first holiday together.
“We’re only putting $20 away each week, but that $20 is going towards making a memorable trip for the four kids and my partner who’ve never been anywhere outside Melbourne.”
Now, with greater stability, Amy feels ready to let another family experience the same support that helped her own family.
“We probably wouldn’t be needing The One Box as much. I could see us cutting back. It would actually feel good, knowing that someone new, just starting at the school and going through a tough time, could receive the same support we had… I’d definitely miss it, but I’d also feel proud, knowing someone else is getting the same chance we had.”
Measuring the impact
Amy’s story captures how The One Box goes beyond meeting a family’s immediate food needs. It highlights how regular access to fresh food can ease daily stress, rebuild healthy routines and create space for families to look ahead with optimism.
Through The One Box’s long-standing research partnership with Monash Business School’s Department of Accounting, the Social Impact Framework helps us understand the broader difference the program makes. Amy’s journey reflects the strength of all three pillars: Nutrition & Wellbeing, Community Building & Support, and Financial Savings, proving how consistent, dignified access to fresh food can transform a family’s future. Key Outcomes for Amy:
Nutrition and Wellbeing
- Consistent access to fresh fruit and vegetables improved the family’s diet and emotional wellbeing
- Amy noticed her son with ADHD became more focused and balanced after regular healthy meals
- Family mealtimes became a daily routine that strengthened their bond and reduced stress
Community Building and Support
- Connected Amy with her school’s wellbeing officer, opening access to wider support for her children’s needs and her own
- Helped her build stronger, more trusting relationships within her school community
- Created a sense of belonging and shared support among other families
Financial Savings
- Saved around $50 a week on groceries, easing financial stress and reducing debt
- Enabled small but meaningful family goals, such as saving for their first holiday
- Allowed Amy to provide better quality meals without seeking additional financial help from her elderly mother
Your support makes stories like Amy’s possible
Many families know what it’s like to stretch every dollar and still put their children first. For Amy, a mother of four and full-time carer, those everyday choices often meant doing without so her children could have enough. It wasn’t until The One Box became part of her week that life started to feel a little less like survival, and more like something to build on.
Your weekly workplace deliveries help The Fruit Box Group to grow and support The One Box, keeping it a powerful source of care and change.
Discover more about our impact in our latest Impact report: Fresh food as a foundation for food security.
