Liberation Larder: Feeding Community, Fighting Waste

By Kate Love

On any given Monday or Thursday in Byron Bay, something quietly extraordinary is unfolding. Before most cafés have opened their doors, volunteers are already at work - plating up hot meals and preparing fresh produce for those who need it most. This is Liberation Larder: a grassroots, volunteer-powered organisation that has been nourishing the Byron Shire for over 15 years.

At its heart, Liberation Larder is built on a simple but powerful idea - rescue good food before it goes to waste and get it into the hands of people who need it. It’s a practical response to two of the region’s most pressing challenges: food insecurity and food waste. And it’s one that continues to grow in both scale and significance.

In the past 12 months alone, the organisation has provided more than 32,000 meals to over 9,000 people, while rescuing upwards of 50,000 kilograms of food from landfill. Behind those numbers is a dedicated network of around 50 volunteers, from food collectors and chefs to kitchen hands and cleaners, all working together to ensure no food - and no person - is overlooked.

The service runs twice a week. Mondays begin early with breakfast at 7am, followed by a hearty lunch at midday - hot meals, salads, dessert and take-home produce. Thursdays offer a similar rhythm, with breakfast snacks and a full lunch service. For many, it’s not only a meal, but a place to connect, to feel safe and to be part of a community.

Liberation Larder’s origins are humble but deeply rooted in compassion. Founded in 2009 by Buddhist nun Venerable Honu Dawson, the initiative began as a simple invitation: bring food if you can, take food if you need it. What started with 20 people quickly grew, fuelled by a generous local spirit and an increasing demand. Today, that same ethos continues. No questions asked, just support when it’s needed most.

Importantly, the organisation operates entirely on a volunteer basis. Food is collected seven days a week from local businesses, producers and supermarkets, then transformed into meals or distributed as food parcels. Even food that can’t be used is redirected to local farmers for livestock, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

Yet, despite its impact, the need continues to rise. Cost-of-living pressures, housing instability and financial hardship are bringing new faces through the doors. Families, seniors and working individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. Liberation Larder is responding, but like many community services, it relies heavily on donations to keep going.

Funding helps cover essentials like food staples, packaging and kitchen supplies. There’s also a growing call for regular donors to sponsor key items - rice, milk, eggs, takeaway containers - small contributions that collectively make a significant difference.

In a town known for its beauty and abundance, Liberation Larder is a reminder that not everyone shares equally in that prosperity. But it also reflects something equally powerful: a community willing to show up, to share and to care.

donate to Liberation Larder

BSB 722 744  Account Number: 1000 71909
Email: liberationlarder@gmail.com 
Phone: 0435 879 778

A Byron Bay initiative is quietly transforming rescued food into thousands of meals each year and supporting locals in need while tackling one of the region’s biggest hidden challenges.

Byron talks: Liberation Larder

How many families and individuals benefit from your services and do you anticipate more families needing support?
Each month looks a little different. During peak holiday periods like Easter and Christmas, many people living in campsites are displaced to surrounding areas such as Ballina or Tweed.

On average, we support around 16 families with young children. Many are living in cars, campsites, rented apartments or even garages.

We’ve been incredibly grateful for additional support, including funding from CWA Bangalow and the Mullumbimby Muff group, which has helped us provide supermarket gift cards to those doing it especially tough.

In winter, we often see an increase in new faces - older women, single parents and families. What we’re seeing more and more is that it’s not just homelessness. Many of our clients are working, sometimes even juggling two jobs, but after paying rent, there’s very little left for food or essential expenses. Others are simply no longer able to work.

Could you tell us more about the special Ladies Bags distribution for International Women’s Day?
Each year we acknowledge International Women’s Day. This year, we were fortunate to receive 50 women’s bags, including mum and bub packs, from Share the Dignity. These included essential sanitary and toiletry items.

On top of that, we prepared additional items such as cosmetics, pantry staples and toys or stationery for children and teens.

Could you share a success story that highlights the impact of Liberation Larder?
One client, J, has been coming to us for seven years. When she first came, she had a young son and was moving frequently, which made it difficult to maintain stable employment. We supported her with weekly meals and pantry items.

This year, things have changed. She’s now working as a hairdresser, and her son has a part-time job. She only visits occasionally when she needs a little extra support. She told us she finally feels like she’s back on track.

Another client, T, who we supported for five years while raising her teenage daughter, has recently secured casual work and managed to save enough to rent a tiny house outside Byron. She now only checks in about once a month for some fresh produce when money is tight.

These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.