For-purpose businesses & communities to support this lockdown.

It feels good to do good. And when you’re stuck in your house slowly going a little nuts during lockdown doing things that feel good is extra important!

There’s no doubt we all suffer significant financial and wellbeing impacts from lockdowns. Unfortunately, however, the most severe impacts are disproportionately felt by some of our most vulnerable communities and individuals.

Lockdowns severely restrict services that are available to those experiencing homelessness and unemployment, and those who are seeking asylum with limited work rights. 

People navigating severe mental health challenges, marginalisation and disability are also more likely to be in casual employment with limited income or job security.

Now more than ever it can be hard to know how to help.

Volunteering options are limited (for obvious reasons), many of us have less income due to reduced hours, pay cuts or job loss - so donating might not be feasible.

But one thing we all need to do is eat, drink and stock our essentials.

And while there is no doubt we need a hell of a lot more than coffee to fix our current situation, when it comes to supporting the community through for-purpose business - the little things add up! 

So, if you’re feeling a little lost on how to support the community, check out a for-purpose business and get your next coffee, meal, jumper, mask, hamper or gift from one of the wonderful for-purpose businesses below.

Cafes & resturants creating impact

Collingwood & Parkville: STREAT support employment for marginalised youth and are open for takeaway food and coffee at both their Cromwell St and Parkville locations. 

Balaclava: All Things Equal provide takeaway café delights and employment opportunities in a ‘mainstream’ workplace for people with disabilities.

Carlton: Sibling by Kinfolk is an award-nominated café delivering employment & training to people ‘from all walks of life’.

Preston: Moon Rabbit provides training opportunities for individuals with additional learning needs and delivers scrumptious seasonal menus and coffee!

Collingwood, Thornbury & St Kilda: Lentil as Anything provide vegetarian meals on a pay as you feel/can basis to ensure those with limited financial resources can access a healthy meal with dignity. Check your local outlet or order via Ubereats and other participating delivery services.

Fitzroy: Charcoal Lane serves up amazing dishes made from native ingredients whilst supporting employment and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chefs and hospitality staff. They’re launching an exciting takeaway menu, check out their site for delivery details.

Fitzroy North + 20km radius of Melbourne: Meals by ASRC Catering offer amazing pre-made vegetarian meals and provide meaningful pathways to employment for people seeking asylum. Available for pickup and delivery.

Norlane/Geelong: The Aviary Cafe deliver ready-made meals to the Norlane and Geelong area to create a healthy and sustainable community and help people in Norlane employed.

Geelong: Little Green Grocer’s Good Meal Project provides income security and support to a local ecosystem of farmers and producers. Purchase a one-off meal, a subscription or pay it forward to someone in need.

Sunshine: SalamaTea House chef Hamed serves mouth-watering Persian dishes and provides employment opportunities and training for refugees. Open for takeaway breakfast, lunch & dinner (check days & times).

Fitzroy North: Free to Feed is cooking up warming winter recipes to share with their new neighbourhood. Each tasty dish provides empowering employment and community connections to people seeking asylum and refugees.

Metro Melbourne: Fair Feed has geared up to provide short-term employment to as many (out-of-work) casual hospitality workers as possible, whilst supporting local suppliers and cooking up delicious lockdown meal packs.

The Goodest Groceries

Online & Fitzroy: The Sibling Shop: deliver ready to eat meals, fresh staples and all the yummy goodness you could possibly want, plus some delish hampers you can gift to loved ones! Sibling by Kinfolk provides a Food Relief service delivering meals and groceries to vulnerable Victorians.

The Community Grocer: pick up a box of mixed fruit and veggies in Carlton, Fitzroy, Heidelberg West and Pakenham. The Community Grocer works to provide access to affordable fresh produce for Victorians experiencing food insecurity.

CERES Fair Food delivers organic fruit, veg and groceries to households across Melbourne, which help provide employment opportunities to new migrants. 100% of their profits go towards CERES environmental education.

Alphington, Carlton & Coburg: Melbourne Farmers Markets are a not-for-profit social enterprise connecting food shoppers with Victorian farmers, a great way to support local producers.

Masks, Clothing & Gifts

Fitzroy & Online: HoMie sells stylish streetwear (seriously good hoodies & track pants for lockdown comfort) and dedicates 100% of profits to helping young people who are affected by homelessness or hardship.

Brunswick & Online: Clothing the Gaps is a Victorian Aboriginal owned social enterprise run by health professionals dedicated to delivering programs without reliance on traditional funding models. Get yourself some awesome T’s, Masks, Jumpers & accessories. 

P.s. They have recently gone through a rebrand after international clothing giant Gap blocked them from trademarking the brand name ‘Clothing the Gap’. As a result, they have under 58 days (at time of writing) to sell all merchandise with the previous ‘Clothing the Gap’ branding...help them out!

Richmond & Online: SisterWorks sell beautiful masks, hampers & gifts made by women who are refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. 

St Kilda & Online: Space2Be have a gorgeous online shop filled with clothing, homewares and art. Their mission is to deliver opportunities for new migrants and refugees to work, train and participate in community activities.

Online: The Beautiful Bunch create a gorgeous seasonal bouquet every day which will not only brighten the day of the person who receives it, but also of the fantastic young refugee women who are trained and employed by this colourful enterprise.

Online: The Social Studio’s online store is full of clothing, accessories and DHHS compliant face masks. Your social shop here will be supporting BIPOC makers and provide work and learning opportunities to people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

Online: Mask Planet has the most colourful selection of face masks which are local, ethically produced and support Australian charities.

Coburg & Online: Second Stitch has an online shop of face masks and fun accessories made by refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum.

Online: QVWC SHOP! is a makers store for Women, by Women. A little gift purchased here will be celebrating Victoria’s finest women and non-binary artists, designers and makers. They’re showing some lockdown love with free shipping.

Are you a for-purpose business supporting the community? Reach out so we can add you to the list - and our map!

(or if you have any suggestions we’d love to hear them!!)