As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on what this year has meant for our community. The truth is, none of it was done alone. This year brought real challenges. Natural disasters. Rising costs of living. Record levels of food insecurity across Australia. But it also brought something powerful: people showing up for one another. At Lighthouse Care, 2025 became a year of standing together responding to crisis, building new pathways, and continuing to support families with dignity, compassion and practical help. This is a look back at what we accomplished together
In 2025 we provided
Cyclone Alfred
In the days leading up to Cyclone Alfred hitting South East Queensland, we knew our community was bracing for impact and we started preparing early. With food donated from the Hyperdome Community Pantry, and support from Rebel Radio, Transurban, and many others in the community, we began packing emergency hampers so that food would be ready to go the moment it was needed. These hampers were filled with essentials so that families facing uncertainty would have something solid to lean on once the storm passed.
When the cyclone made landfall, power was lost at both our Loganholme and Hillcrest sites. Most of the region went dark but thanks to generators donated by Fairfield Forum Pharmacy and Westpac, our doors stayed open when so many others had to close. With lights on, fridges running and doors open, we became a place people could come to at a time when so much around them felt unstable.
During this time, where families couldn’t stock up before the storm because they live week to week and hadn’t been paid yet. Bills, rent, fuel, food all competed for the same small dollars, and when disaster hit, many families simply didn’t have anything in the pantry to get them through. We were able to put food where it needed to go.
Through this effort, we worked alongside community groups, shelters and organisations to help those struggling. Together we packed and delivered hundreds of emergency hampers for families impacted by flooding and severe weather, ensuring food relief was ready on the ground when it really mattered.
Our Co-Founder, Debbie Hill, also took the message beyond our walls doing a live interview with Sunrise on Channel 7 to share the reality on the ground and highlight how the community could continue to support families in crisis.
In the weeks that followed, Lighthouse Care remained a hub for support as the region began its long journey toward recovery. Even as infrastructure was restored, the need for tangible help stayed real, and our disaster relief efforts continued — not just in the moment of impact, but into the weeks and months families needed reassurance that their community had not forgotten them.
SQW Traineeship
2025 marked a significant milestone for Lighthouse Care with the launch of our first Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) program. Being approved to run the program was something we were incredibly proud of, and it opened the door for us to support people in a whole new way.
The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of people applied, each with their own story, challenges and hopes for the future. From those applications, 12 trainees were selected to take part in the program and join the Lighthouse team.
Over 18 weeks, these trainees worked across our stores, warehouse and operations, gaining hands-on experience in real workplace environments. They learned practical skills, developed confidence, and built habits that will stay with them well beyond their time at Lighthouse. At the end of the program, each trainee graduated with a Certificate I in Workplace Skills but the impact went far beyond a qualification.
Throughout the program, we watched people come out of their shells, build self-belief, and begin to overcome barriers that had previously held them back. For some, it was their first time in a structured work environment. For others, it was a chance to rebuild confidence after a long season of unemployment.
One of the most encouraging outcomes has been seeing many of these trainees step into full-time employment following the program.
Good Food Festival
One of the most joyful moments of 2025 was the Good Food Festival. The event was completely free and designed to remove cost as a barrier, giving families access to food, essentials and experiences they would not otherwise be able to afford.
Hosted at LSKD HQ in Loganholme, the event was only made possible through strong partnerships and community collaboration. LSKD opened their space and activated their partner network to support the day through food, services, logistics and funding.
On the day, over 4,000 people were provided with free meals. Thanks to the support of Greenbank Services Club and Yalburu Yumba, Lighthouse Care distributed 600 free $25 grocery trolleys, delivering immediate food relief to families experiencing financial pressure.
Food and services were provided by a wide range of partners. Thai Street Food To You, provided over 400 meals, sausage sizzle, pancakes, pastries, fish and chips vendors, bacon and eggs, Krispy Kreme, popcorn, and Vagabond contributed meals by preparing pasta using Good Food products on site. Homeground Coffee served more than 1,000 free coffees across the day.
Beyond meals, the event focused on providing practical support. A free clothing and toy market distributed over 20,000 items, including clothing, shoes, toys, kitchenware and household goods. These items were made available to families at no cost.
To manage distribution efficiently, Flame Stop opened their carpark to operate as a drive-through location for the 600 free $25 trolleys. Queensland Police supported traffic and event management, helping ensure the event ran safely and smoothly. Hundreds of volunteers assisted across food service, logistics, crowd flow and family support.
Entertainment and activities were provided to create a welcoming environment for families. This included a petting zoo, kids’ activities, live performances from Performance Studios and Kelvin and the King Stones, and music throughout the day from the LSKD DJ. Rebel Radio broadcast live from the event, sharing updates and community stories in real time.
For many families, the Good Food Festival provided access to food, essentials and experiences that would not have been possible under normal circumstances. By bringing partners, volunteers and services together in one place, the event delivered both immediate relief and a sense of inclusion for thousands of people in the community.
The Good Food Festival demonstrated what can be achieved when organisations collaborate to show kindness to the community.
Launch of Good Food
In 2025, Lighthouse Care launched Good Food to address a growing challenge in food relief, rising food costs, inconsistent supply, and the increasing pressure on charities to do more with less.
Good Food was created as a social enterprise grocery brand, designed to provide high-quality staple products at the lowest possible cost, with 100% of profits reinvested into helping families in need.
The Good Food range includes essential grocery items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, sauces, biscuits, crackers and household staples. Each product was selected for quality, shelf life and practicality, making them suitable for both families and frontline organisations distributing food relief.
Since launching in July, more than 10,000 Good Food hampers have been provided to families across South East Queensland. These hampers have been used not only through Lighthouse Care’s own programs, but also by frontline services, including Loganholme Police, who distribute them directly to families in crisis.
Good Food has also enabled partnerships with organisations such as Comunify, 5fold, Hillsong Church, and other charities, allowing them to access affordable, ready-to-distribute food relief while saving thousands of dollars in operational and food costs. By reducing the need for sourcing, packing and storing food, Good Food has helped partner organisations focus more of their resources on direct support.
Beyond immediate relief, Good Food represents a shift in how food relief can operate, moving from reactive, donation-dependent models to a more predictable, scalable and dignified system that can grow alongside demand.
Good Food plans to expand nationally in 2026, enabling more organisations across Australia to access affordable food relief while supporting families at scale.
Grease Lightning - June Fundraiser
The Grease Lightning fundraiser brought together supporters, partners and local businesses for a night that was both high-energy and deeply purposeful. Hosted in a Rydell High–themed setting.
The room was full, the atmosphere was upbeat, and the night moved quickly between entertainment, connection and giving. Guests enjoyed live performances, music, a delicious 3 course meal and a strong sense of shared purpose, knowing that every ticket, raffle entry and auction bid was helping support families experiencing food insecurity.
Gold Event Sponsors
Stokes Lawyers
Pasfield Plumbing
Real Estate Domain Team
Alan Winford Mechanical
Silver Event Sponsors
Fleming & Sons Electrical
Four Hills Real Estate
Tursa
Greenbank Services Club
Munster
G1 Asset Management
Frizelle Sunshine Automotive
Event Raffle & Auction Donors
LSKD
Officeworks
Brisbane Broncos
Event Cinemas
Bunnings Warehouse
Zarraffa’s Coffee
DJ Waters
Wayne Budge Photography
Bethel Funerals
Hyperdome Shopping Centre
Raffle and auction items ranged from shopping vouchers and experiences to artwork, accommodation stays, sporting memorabilia and premium prizes, giving guests plenty of opportunities to get involved while directly supporting Lighthouse Care’s work.
The proceeds from Grease Lightning directly supported Emergency Food Relief hampers, helping families facing sudden crisis access food when they needed it most.
10 Years of Santa's Little Helpers
Christmas can be one of the hardest times of year for families doing it tough. The pressure, the expectations, and the cost can make what should be a joyful season feel overwhelming especially for parents who desperately want to give their children a special Christmas but simply can’t afford to.
In 2025, Santa’s Little Helpers helped change that story for 330 children, each receiving $200 worth of gifts chosen specifically for them. These weren’t generic hand-outs. They were thoughtful, personal gifts the kinds of things children had hoped for, talked about, and written down on their wishlists.
This impact would not have been possible without the incredible organisations who partnered with Lighthouse Care to identify families, distribute gifts and support children throughout the process. These organisations work on the frontline every day, and Santa’s Little Helpers allowed them to offer something deeply meaningful to the families they serve at Christmas.
Read the full Santa’s Little Helpers 2025 report
None of this would be possible without the partnerships formed throughout the year. Businesses, community organisations and frontline services worked alongside Lighthouse Care to extend reach and multiply impact.
To everyone who shopped with Lighthouse, donated, volunteered, partnered with us or shared our story this year. Thank you. Lighthouse Care is more than a service. It is a family. A community. People helping people through hard times.
As we look toward 2026, we do so with gratitude, momentum and hope, knowing that together, we can continue making a difference.
