Hathy’s story – Relocating and rebuilding with The One Box
When her marriage ended without warning, Hathy’s life changed overnight.
“It was 10 years in that relationship. So, when he just left us, without money, without anything, and he didn’t tell the kids or me where he was, we even thought maybe some accident had happened. He just left suddenly.”
Alone with her two children, newly arrived in Australia, without financial support, Hathy faced not only the shock of abandonment but the immediate stress of how to provide for her family.
With no permanent residency at the time, she had no access to government assistance and was already coping with postnatal depression and ongoing health problems. The weight of uncertainty about her future, her children’s visas, and simply getting food on the table, was overwhelming.
Amid this uncertainty, it was her school community hub leader that stepped in.
“Thankfully, the community hub leader arranged The One Box and would drop it at my door many times, because I lived close to the school. That made me feel so relieved and grateful.”
Over the past two years, The One Box became an integral part of her transformation; from struggling to survive to becoming a more confident and optimistic single mother. What Hathy gained was not just food but also trust and understanding, because The One Box came with the hub leader’s genuine awareness of her situation and willingness to help.
“The One Box is the first help I got after separation. I think the box is a good thing, a very good thing. But more than that, it’s a link between people. It’s a bridge between society and the people who need help.”
By the end of 2024, Hathy was no longer part of the program, but the benefits endured. The consistent support she received in those early years had restored her confidence, helped her family establish healthier eating habits, and built a circle of supportive relationships that continue to carry her forward.
The impact of The One Box, for Hathy, is measured not only in weekly groceries but in the lasting stability and optimism it made possible.
“My mentality, my finances, my confidence, and my socialising have all improved. I think I can seek help now. I’m focusing on my health, I’ll study and look for a job. It has taken time, but I feel I can do it.. I’m giving 200 percent.”
How we measure the impact
The One Box’s Social Impact Framework, developed in partnership with Monash Business School, helps us measure the real-world outcomes of our program beyond food relief.
Hathy’s journey reflects all three pillars of the Social Impact Framework: Nutrition and Wellbeing, Community Building and Support, and Financial Savings, demonstrating how consistent, dignified access to fresh food can help families move from crisis to confidence. Key Outcomes for Hathy:
Nutrition and Wellbeing
- Fresh fruit and vegies each week gave her children more variety and security in their meals
- Introduced new produce Hathy’s family otherwise may not have tried
- The regularity of The One Box deliveries provided reassurance and a sense of relief during a difficult time
Community Building and Support
- Built a trusting connection with her local community hub leader
- Found comfort and friendship among others who shared similar experiences
- Joined cooking classes that strengthened her health and social connections
Financial Savings
- Weekly fruit and vegies covered much of her family’s grocery needs
- Freed up limited funds for healthcare and other essentials
Your support makes stories like Hathy’s possible
Hathy’s story is a reminder of how powerful small, yet consistent support can be. When you choose The Fruit Box Group for your office fruit deliveries, milk deliveries, workplace coffee or pantry orders, you’re helping fund programs like The One Box.
Your collective support, ensures mothers like Hathy can find stability, confidence and connection again. What might seem like a weekly tearoom delivery, is in fact, part of a much bigger ripple of impact. One that helps families regain independence and hope and enables children to arrive at school nourished and ready to learn and play.
Discover more about our impact in our latest Impact report: Fresh food as a foundation for food security.
