Rotary editors team up with OzHarvest to cook meals for those in need

Regional Rotary magazine editors from across Asia Pacific and the US have turned their passion for community service into culinary action with OzHarvest Queensland to help tackle food insecurity on the Gold Coast.

WORDS. Katherine Herron, OzHarvest National Program Lead, Cooking for a Cause

The Cooking for a Cause session saw Rotarians working alongside OzHarvest chefs and volunteers to prepare meals that will be distributed to people experiencing hardship in the local area. The collaboration combines Rotary’s commitment to service with OzHarvest’s mission to ‘Nourish our Country’.

Jason Keyser, Managing Editor of Rotary magazine in the US, said the experience was both educational and rewarding.

“Cooking for a Cause offers a meaningful hands-on team building experience,” he said. “Working alongside the OzHarvest chefs for an afternoon was so engaging and fun. I learned a lot.”

Jason was surprised by how the session opened his eyes to practical ways individuals can make a difference beyond simply preparing meals.

“I had no idea that my food preparation techniques could also play a role in reducing food waste,” he said.

The initiative reflects a growing trend of hands-on volunteering that delivers immediate impact while building team connections. Participants not only contributed to feeding those in need but also gained insight into the challenges of food insecurity affecting the local community.

“Coming from a developing country like India, where hunger is a daily companion to millions, one had thought that food deprivation wouldn’t be a big issue in Australia,” said Rasheeda Bhagat, Editor of the Indian Rotary magazine, Rotary News. “So, it came as a surprise to find that the number of families facing food insecurity in Australia are increasing.

“You might think, ‘how can a family with a house face food insecurity?’ But we learnt that that is the reality today. Parents skip meals so their children can eat, and children skip school because they don’t have anything to take for lunch.”

OzHarvest is tackling this issue by rescuing quality surplus food and redistributing it to charities supporting vulnerable people. Through Cooking for a Cause sessions like these, volunteers transform rescued ingredients into ready-to-eat meals that provide nourishment and dignity to those doing it tough.

“What stood out was the love and care that went into the entire preparation,” Rasheeda said. It gave a new meaning to the term dignity in giving… and receiving!”

More Cooking for a Cause opportunities

OzHarvest offers several ways to get involved in Cooking for a Cause sessions.

Open Kitchen Sessions provide regular opportunities for anyone to join in preparing meals for local charities, with no cooking experience necessary. The next session is scheduled for International Volunteer Day (5 December 2025) in Sydney.

For organisations seeking meaningful end of year team building, Cooking for a Cause, Cooking for a Cause Plus, or Cooking for a Cause After Dark offer an alternative to traditional corporate functions, where teams build connections while preparing meals for those in need.

Kids Cooking for a Cause runs during school holidays, teaching young people valuable cooking skills while instilling the importance of community service and helping others.

Each session combines the joy of cooking with the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of people facing food insecurity.

“Cooking for a Cause was the best possible way to spend an afternoon,” Rasheeda said. “Of course, there was serious cooking, but it was accompanied by a lot of fun and laughter. It was a great learning experience and one I will cherish.”

For more information about upcoming Cooking for a Cause sessions or to book your team, visit www.ozharvest.org/cooking-for-a-cause