How do you get back to ‘normal’ after being released from prison? Who is going to give you a chance?
Fruit2Work is an award-winning social enterprise and charity that creates chances for people who have been impacted by the justice system. They do this by providing employment and helping people rebuild their lives by delivering boxes of fresh fruit, milk and pantry items to offices in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast areas.
General Manager/Chance Creator Simon Fenech founded Fruit2Work because he said there is much stigma around having been to prison, though the biggest stigma is that which people put on themselves.
“I felt like I had a tattoo across my forehead that said, ‘Just released’,” Simon said. “When I came home from prison, I found it very hard to get a job.
“With Fruit2Work, there is a sense of purpose coming home in a hi-vis uniform. Feeling like part of the community again is the biggest buzz.”
Changing Lives, One Fruit Box at a Time
Though the Queensland office is run from Archerfield, people are willing to drive from Caboolture for a second chance at life. Teams start from 2.30am and work roles are tailored around team members’ responsibilities.
Simon said the young mums from Caboolture are happy to drive the distance – there’s no traffic then and they finish in time to pick up the kids after school.
“The stigma is harder for women than for men, especially young mums,” he said. “They go to pick their kids up and feel like the other mums look down on them.
“They’ve paid their dues. Let’s help them reintegrate back into the community. Let’s give them a hand up.
“We also reduce youth crime by Mum getting her life back – kids see Mum as an inspiration.”
Simon added that in nine years of existence, no one who had joined the program had re-offended and gone back to prison.
“We remove the judgement and the stigma – people feel safe and proud of who they are today,” he said.
“The more customers we have, the more jobs that creates and the more people we can help.”
Visit Fruit2Work for further information and to order a fruit box for your office.
Read more stories from The Caboolture Guide print magazine here:
- Caboolture Connect: Updates from the Community
- What’s Hot Around Town
- A Whale Of A Tale
- Polls, Preferences & Power: Your 2025 Voting Guide
- Carp Cyprinus carpio
- Organic Gardening in May
- The Aegean Movie Review
- Making a Scene Podcast Review
- The Great Gift of Giving
- Travel Back in Time at Abbey Medieval Festival
- It’s Time For Some Footloose Fun
- BPW Expo Has Something for Everyone
- Macaroni Cheese With Cheezel Topping
- Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
- Heritage Day Steams into Town
- Burpengary: From Rural Village to Thriving Suburb
- Diving between the pages
- History Seminar Unveils Fascinating Local Narratives
- Painting the Way to Reconciliation
- Seeing Red For A Worthy Cause
