TL;DR
- Weekly fresh fruit and vegetables gave Doris and her daughter reliable food support during a period of serious illness and family crisis
- The One Box was accessible when Doris's health made other food relief services difficult to reach, removing transport and travel barriers
- Regular, dignified contact strengthened Doris's trust in the school, creating a safe pathway to seek additional support when she needed it
“I don’t have to think about it because I know it’s coming on a Tuesday. I’ve got enough fruit. I’ve got enough vegetables.”
When Kathy started school, life for Doris was steady. She walked her daughter to school each morning, and their routine was predictable. Then, in a short period, almost everything changed.
Domestic violence and the breakdown of her marriage turned daily life upside down. A custody battle followed. Then came a diagnosis of brain tumours.
Finding Support When Other Options Were Out of Reach
Although she lived within walking distance of the school, her illness meant even short distances became impossible on bad days. She couldn’t drive, couldn’t use public transport and carrying groceries was out of the question. External food relief services – the kind that require travel, queuing or carrying food home – were simply not accessible. The One Box was the only support she could reach.
“I don’t have to go to the shop. Sometimes my health doesn’t allow me. I don’t have to think about it because I know it’s coming on a Tuesday. I’ve got enough fruit. I’ve got enough vegetables.”
“There’s no judgment. There’s no nothing ever, ever”
The Value of Certainty
Knowing fresh produce would arrive each week removed a source of constant anxiety. During treatment and legal proceedings, that predictability gave Doris something she desperately needed: certainty.
Alongside everything she was carrying, Doris began to notice changes in Kathy. Before joining The One Box, she felt her daughter didn’t fully understand the pressure the family was under. Over time, Kathy became more aware of their circumstances and more appreciative of the support surrounding them.
“She knows every Tuesday we get a box with some fruits… when she sees someone is helping her or me, it kind of helps, and she’s much more relaxed.”
Receiving a box each week made that support visible. Kathy could see that someone cared about her family. Rather than creating embarrassment, it created reassurance.
The box had Kathy’s name on it. It was hers. She took pride in collecting it and became more interested in healthy eating and helping at home. Doris described her daughter as becoming more mature, more aware of others and more engaged in family life during a difficult period.
Building Trust Beyond the Box
The weekly collection also strengthened Doris’s connection with the school. What began as food support gradually became something more. Regular contact created familiarity. Familiarity built trust. Over time, Doris felt increasingly comfortable reaching out when she needed help and sharing what was happening in her life.
“Since the box, it’s built that relationship even more. Doris feels more comfortable contacting us directly and saying, ‘I need additional help.’” – School Program Coordinator
That trust became an important source of support during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
For Doris, The One Box was never just about food. It was the one form of support that could reach her when nothing else could – and through it, she and Kathy began rebuilding.
What does the Research Say About The One Box’s Impact?
Doris’s experience demonstrated how the way food support is delivered can matter just as much as the food itself.
Since 2020, The One Box has been independently measured and evaluated by the Department of Accounting at Monash Business School. The 2025 Impact Report concludes a three-year longitudinal study following the same families over time to better understand how consistent support influences their lives.
The research shows that reliable food support can help ease financial and food stress, while regular contact through trusted school communities can build connection and create pathways to broader support.
Read the 2025 Impact Report to explore the independent research behind The One Box and discover more stories from families participating in the program.
Key Outcomes for Doris
Nutrition and Wellbeing
- Reliable weekly access to fresh fruit and vegetables during a period of serious illness and family crisis
- Reduced stress and physical barriers by removing the need to shop for and carry groceries
- Supported healthy eating habits and food awareness for both Doris and Kathy
Community Building and Support
- Built trust with the school through regular, dignified contact
- Created a safe pathway to seek additional support during a difficult period
- Helped Kathy develop greater empathy, awareness and engagement at home
Financial Savings
- Reduced grocery expenses by around $50 p/week during a period of medical and legal strain
- Provided accessible support when other food relief services were difficult to reach
- Removed transport and travel barriers associated with accessing food assistance
How Can I Support The One Box?
For Doris and Kathy, consistent food support provided something particularly valuable during an unpredictable period. It provided something they could rely on each week.
Accessible support removed practical barriers, while regular contact helped strengthen trust with the school. And that trust created a safe connection Doris could turn to when she needed additional help.
Doris’s experience reflects something the three-year research into The One Box has helped make visible – when fresh food is provided consistently, with dignity and through trusted community networks, its impact can reach beyond immediate food relief.
Support The One Box and help provide more families with consistent access to fresh, nutritious food through trusted school communities.
