A few years ago, mason jars were tucked in the shadows of our pantries, gathering dust. Now, they’re a trendy, environmentally friendly, portable way to eat our favourite meals. Plus, hello Instagram inspiration! We’re all for the stacked, minimalistic look that somehow makes the food even more appetising…
But did you know that these clever little jars can also help you to make a difference?
Two Good is a company that sells organic mason jar lunch designed by top chefs (including Matt Moran and Kylie Kwong) and delivers it straight to your Sydney- or Melbourne-based workplace, while sending the same meal to a domestic violence refuge at no extra cost.
The lunch delivery company was founded by Rob Caslick and Cathal Flaherty, who started Two Good in 2015 after their organic soup kitchen became a success.
“We wanted to grow it without asking people for more money – that’s where our ‘Buy One, Give One’ idea came in,” Rob says.
“We initially reached out to a local women’s refuge and provided them with some jars. They said they loved what we were doing, and we gave them more jars and it grew organically from there.”
The meals from Two Good are prepared by women employed from the refuges they support. The heart of their mission is that “no person in a refuge should feel unworthy of love” – and they want to show this through the care taken in making their products. They have worked with 8 refuges and 4 soup kitchens – but thanks to a new partnership with American Express they are now working with 15 refuges across Sydney and Melbourne.
“The women working in our kitchens are mostly inspired by the fact that someone believes in them. There’s the question of how do you rebuild your life after something so awful has happened?" says Rob. "Our kitchens provide a training element through making meals, and there’s such a great energy. One of the great things about it is that the women are often making something for others in similar situations, so there’s a camaraderie and understanding there, and they feel empowered.”
This month, Two Good and Deliveroo, partnered with American Express, are expecting to more than double the amount of food donated to women's shelters in Sydney and Melbourne. To celebrate this awesome partnership, they have unveiled a huge statement mosaic by artist Noula Diamantopoulos in the heart of Sydney – a mural made of 20,000 jar lids atop a message reading "love shouldn't hurt." It's inspired by domestic violence survivor Felicity Cook, and it definitely makes an impact. Each jar lid represents a meal donated through Two Good over the next month.
“There’s a statistic that it takes seven attempts for a woman to leave her abusive partner,” Rob says. “Many of their reasons are valid, but research has shown that a demonstration of love and support from the community can really make a difference in terms of finding the confidence to leave. We wanted to show someone how do we demonstrate that we’re not just a big company handing out leftovers, that we genuinely care. And what’s great about this mural is that each jar lid is a demonstration of one person’s care, and that 20,000 people have come together to achieve it.”
Some of the recipes Two Good currently have on offer include a Moroccan chicken tagine with couscous, braised spicy beef with corn and black bean salad, and "The Kylie Kwong" that we'd order without even seeing what's in it, but it's a hokkien noodle dish!
Hungry yet? Place your order now by clicking this link! (and join the conversation by using the hashtag #deliveringgood).
You can visit the mural at 180 George Street, Sydney.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit the website at lifeline.org.au. You can also contact Reach Out on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit the website at reachout.com. In an emergency, call 000.
Sydney-based Hannah Oakshott is a tea-obsessed pop culture enthusiast who can usually be found showing people pictures of her two miniature schnauzers or baking sweet, lemony food. Hannah is on Instagram @hannah.mareeee