One hour out of my usual routine. 2,029 sandwiches. And a reminder of what really matters.
By Ash, co-owner of Sinchies
Today I did something a little different.
I stepped away from my usual routine, ignored my never-ending to-do list for an hour and volunteered with an incredible Australian charity called Eat Up Australia.
And I'm SO glad I did.
Like most parents and small business owners, my days are pretty full. Between running Sinchies, packing orders, emails, marketing, kids, lunch boxes and everything else that comes with life, there's always something that needs doing.
There's always another email to answer, another job to tick off or another reason to say, "I'll do that when I have more time."
But today I decided those things could wait.
Just for one hour.
And what a worthwhile hour it was!
2,029 sandwiches in one session!
Alongside a wonderful group of volunteers, I helped make an incredible 2,029 sandwiches for school children who need them.
Yes, 2,029!
If you haven't heard of Eat Up Australia, they're a charity working to make sure children don't go hungry at school.
With the help of volunteers and generous supporters, Eat Up makes and delivers free lunches directly to schools across Australia.
And here's something that really stopped me in my tracks.
1 in 3 children at the schools Eat Up supports need an Eat Up lunch.
As a mum of two boys, that statistic really hits home.
We spend so much time thinking about what to put in our kids' lunch boxes, whether they'll eat what we've packed and how to keep them fuelled throughout the school day.
But for some families, the challenge isn't what to pack. It's having enough food to pack in the first place.
No child should have to spend their school day hungry.
And that's why organisations like Eat Up are doing such important work.
The unexpected bonus? The people!
As if making over 2,000 sandwiches wasn't rewarding enough, I also met some really lovely people.
And here's where things got a little random!
I happened to sit next to a gentleman who'd backpacked through Africa in the 1970s, including Malawi, where I'm originally from.
Then I discovered the lady sitting opposite us had lived in Kenya before COVID and had also visited Malawi!
Of all the people I could have sat next to!
What are the chances?!
We ended up chatting about Africa, sharing stories and discovering these lovely little connections.
It was such a reminder that sometimes stepping outside your usual routine introduces you to people and conversations you'd never otherwise have.
We're all busy. But sometimes we need to make the time.
I think this was my biggest takeaway from the morning.
We're all busy.
There's work, school runs, sport, housework, appointments, groceries and a million other things competing for our attention.
And if you're anything like me, the to-do list never actually ends.
But sometimes we get so caught up in our own little worlds that we forget how much good we can do by stepping outside them.
I didn't suddenly find an extra hour in my day. I chose to spend an hour doing something different.
And guess what?
The emails were still there when I got back.
The work was still waiting.
Nothing fell apart because I stepped away for an hour.
But in that hour, I helped contribute to something meaningful, met some wonderful people and came away feeling really good about how I'd spent my time.
I'd call that an hour very well spent.
Want to get involved with Eat Up Australia?
If this has inspired you to do something similar, I'd really encourage you to check out Eat Up.
You don't need to commit to volunteering every week or rearrange your entire life.
There are several ways to get involved, whether you've got an hour to spare, want to organise something with your workplace or would prefer to make a donation.
1. Volunteer at a sandwich-making session
Eat Up runs public sandwich-making events where individuals, families and friends can come together to prepare lunches for children in need.
You can go along on your own, bring a friend or make it a family activity.
Children under 12 can also participate when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Find out how to volunteer with Eat Up
2. Get your workplace involved
Looking for a meaningful team-building activity?
Eat Up also organises workplace sandwich-making sessions in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
They bring the ingredients, equipment and guidance, and your team can help make more than 1,000 sandwiches in just 60 minutes.
What a great way to spend an hour with your colleagues while making a difference!
Learn about workplace volunteering
3. Make a donation
Can't volunteer in person? You can still help.
Eat Up relies on donations and supporters to keep making and delivering lunches to children who need them.
Whether it's a one-off donation or something more regular, every contribution helps.
4. Spread the word
Sometimes helping is as simple as sharing a cause with someone else.
Follow Eat Up on social media, share their work with your friends or tell your workplace about their volunteering opportunities.
You never know who you might inspire to get involved.
Learn more about Eat Up Australia
My little challenge to you
This week, do something different.
It doesn't even have to be volunteering with Eat Up, although I'd highly recommend it!
Find a local charity, help someone in your community, volunteer at your child's school or give an hour of your time to something you care about.
It doesn't need to be a huge commitment.
You don't need to wait until work settles down, the kids are older or your to-do list is finally empty.
Because let's be honest, when does that ever happen? 😂
Sometimes the most rewarding thing you can do is step away from everything you think you need to do and spend a little time doing something for someone else.
One hour out of my usual day.
2,029 sandwiches.
Some wonderful conversations.
And a very happy heart.
I'll definitely be doing it again.
Ash x
If you'd like to learn more about Eat Up Australia or find a way to help, visit www.eatup.org.au.
Leave a comment