Regional non-profit organisation Pathfinders has partnered with commercial horticultural enterprise Costa Group to introduce a recurring food supply chain supporting crisis meal services in Newcastle. The cross-sector agreement guarantees a monthly allocation of 100 kilograms of Guyra-grown produce to Soul Hub, a frontline charity managing rising demand for food assistance among vulnerable demographics across the Hunter.
The logistically integrated partnership coordinates corporate agricultural surplus with regional youth development programs. Under the framework, participants and field staff from the Pathfinders Tilbuster Station agricultural hub near Armidale handle the regional transport corridor logistics, delivering the monthly bulk stock directly to Soul Hub’s Newcastle kitchen facilities.
The regular supply comes amid tightening intake parameters for regional welfare groups, with Soul Hub management reporting a broader market reduction in traditional food donations concurrently hitting a sharp spike in operational demand. The city-based non-profit processed and served more than 80,000 meals across its community network last year, relying on robust ingredient volumes to sustain daily services.
The recurring monthly distribution builds on a twelve-year collaborative history between the organisations through the annual Pumpkin Run, a seasonal community engagement initiative where regional youth harvest tonnes of pumpkins at Tilbuster Station before travelling across New South Wales to volunteer in crisis kitchens.
Chief Executive Officer of Pathfinders, Alan Brennan noted that combining agricultural supply lines with corporate sponsors provides valuable infrastructure scaling while reinforcing practical skill acquisition for regional youth.
“The Pumpkin Run has always been about much more than delivering produce. It creates opportunities for young people to contribute to their communities, develop practical skills and see first-hand the value of giving back. We’re incredibly grateful to Costa Group for helping us extend that impact throughout the year,” Alan said.
The initiative bridges the commercial and social sectors, creating an efficient supply chain model that converts commercial primary production into measurable community outcome indicators.
Tilbuster Station Manager, Anthony Simmons stated that embedding regular community service milestones into agricultural training frameworks anchors long-term behavioural development.
“At Tilbuster, young people learn practical skills through agriculture, but they also learn what it means to give back, take responsibility and be part of their community. Being able to continue making regular donations like this means those lessons continue long after the Pumpkin Run has finished,” Anthony said.
The inaugural monthly produce handover was officially completed in Guyra by Costa Group Manager, Christopher Cameron, with the primary transport run accepted at the Newcastle receiving facility by Soul Hub General Manager, Matthew Ortiger.
IMAGE | Pathfinders and Costa Group establish agricultural logistics partnership to secure monthly produce supply for Soul Hub
