Reverend Robyn and Reverend Dr Lindsay Burch’s not-for-profit organisation Havafeed Relief has fed more than one million people.
The couple started Havafeed in 1994 with a van and donated loaves of bread. It’s now a regular fixture at the Mermaid Beach Community Centre. Six days a week, visitors can enjoy a hot meal, pick up a hamper, connect with others or talk with a local support service if they need help.
Robyn and Lindsay have dedicated their retirement years to Havafeed. They start before dawn to make sure they have enough food and volunteers for each day’s work. The organisation receives no funding and relies entirely on donations from the community.
The couple have never asked for wages, often using their own funds to keep their work afloat.
Havafeed Relief currently provides more than 300 meals a week and has raised almost $2 million in donations over the last 30 years.