More Than a Meal: Why The Breakfast Club Redcliffe Inc. Matters

Every community has places that quietly hold it together.

For more than 23 years, Breakfast Club Redcliffe Inc. has been one of those places.

What began as a simple breakfast service has grown into one of the Peninsula’s most important community hubs, providing food, connection and practical support to hundreds of people each week. As the cost of living continues to rise and housing insecurity becomes more visible across our region, organisations like Breakfast Club Redcliffe have never been more important.

That’s why we’re proud to announce that Breakfast Club Redcliffe is the recipient of River North Community Foundation’s very first Action Fund Microgrant.

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More than food

It’s easy to assume Breakfast Club Redcliffe is simply a place where people come for a meal.

The reality is far bigger.

Three mornings each week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), around 50–60 people gather for breakfast. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, that number grows to 80–100 people for dinner.

Alongside meal services, the organisation operates a drop-in centre - providing emergency food relief, a warm shower, laundry hosted by Orange Sky, connection for people to local services, and creates a welcoming space where everyone is treated with dignity.

Today, they support more than 100 people every day, with around 70% of those accessing services experiencing homelessness.

Yet homelessness doesn’t always look the way people expect.

Many people are couch surfing, living in cars, in temporary accommodation or facing significant housing insecurity. Others may have a roof over their heads but are living in deep isolation, struggling to afford groceries, or simply needing somewhere safe to connect with others.

As the team shared with us, homelessness doesn’t necessarily always mean someone is hungry - but everyone deserves community and a welcoming space to gather.

Connection is the secret ingredient

While food brings people through the door, connection is what keeps people coming back!

Breakfast Club Redcliffe intentionally creates a welcoming environment where volunteers know people’s names, conversations happen naturally, and individuals can reconnect with community after experiencing hardship or isolation.

For many, that sense of belonging is just as valuable as the meals themselves.

It’s also why the organisation continues to evolve alongside changing community needs.

As more people move from homelessness into housing, new challenges emerge. People who are now housed can still experience profound loneliness, financial hardship and social isolation.

Breakfast Club Redcliffe continues to adapt, ensuring no one is left behind.

A community effort

The impact of Breakfast Club Redcliffe is made possible by an incredible network of volunteers, supporters, Board of Directors, and one dedicated, hardworking and kind part-time paid staff member.

Students from local private schools regularly volunteer, gaining firsthand experience of community service while building meaningful relationships with people they may never otherwise meet. Many return again and again, inspired by the experience.

For example; Grace Lutheran College students have been volunteering for over 15 years, in addition to Lakes College, Saint Patricks College, St Columban's at Caboolture and Southern Cross Catholic College helping out too!

On August 6th, they’re bringing organisations together for a community reconnection event involving housing services, mental health providers, outreach organisations, hairdressers, massage providers and other frontline supports—because lasting solutions happen when communities work together. You can find more details, here.

Breakfast Club Redcliffe is also home to Safe Sleeps Redcliffe, operating the local Sleepbus service. Since commencing in February 2025, the service has provided more than 800 safe overnight stays, offering a secure place to sleep for people who would otherwise be forced to sleep rough.

Why we’re backing them

At River North Community Foundation, we created the Action Fund to support grassroots organisations doing extraordinary work with modest resources.

These are the organisations closest to community need.

They see problems early.

They respond quickly.

They know the people behind the statistics.

The Breakfast Club Redcliffe embodies everything the Action Fund was designed to support. Our microgrant is intentionally simple and trust-based, giving the team flexibility to respond to emerging needs without unnecessary paperwork or red tape.

While this grant is modest, it joins the support of many others who have recognised the importance of The Breakfast Club Redcliffe’s work over the years, including previous funding through Queensland Gives, Louis Leisure Group, Auto General, Everhard Industries, Aimlab and City of Moreton Bay Council and the generosity of countless local donors, volunteers, businesses and community partners.

We’re honoured that our very first Action Fund microgrant can go to The Breakfast Club Redcliffe Inc.

How you can help

Community organisations like Breakfast Club Redcliffe rely on local people stepping up.

Here are a few ways you can support their work:

·       Donate non-perishable food items.

·       Donate much-needed nappies and sanitary products.

·       Donate quality men’s clothing.

·       Volunteer your time or expertise.

·       Share their work with others who may wish to help.

·       Make a financial donation to support their ongoing services, here.

Every contribution helps create a community where people are seen, supported and connected.

Because sometimes the most important thing someone receives isn’t breakfast.

It’s knowing someone was waiting to say hello.

If you're a part of an impactful organisation and want to connect with us, For Community Orgs | River North Community Foundation

If you want to contribute to the Action Fund and fund a microgrant, click here.