Alkira's Story.

FOOD
IS LOVE.

Trigger warning: this brave story mentions rehab, domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental health challenges and homelessness. Please read with care.

“It all comes down to intention.”

It’s about the time and the effort that goes into making something - if you make something with love and share it with others, it's a very bonding and positive experience.

For my Two Good lunch, I made a slow-cooked pulled pork with a burnt butter and lime corn and salsa. It was like a Mexican-themed smorgasbord. It's a meal I like to make for loved ones. I’ve never made it on that scale before, but just seeing people enjoy every mouthful was so satisfying. So, the intention behind my lunch was sharing love, through food.

Our Two Good lunches - sitting down together and sharing a meal, talking and laughing – it’s such an enjoyable experience. A lot of people don’t have the facilities or the money to create nice food - and they miss out on those kinds of experiences, of connecting and sharing food with love.

I feel like a lot of products these days are just…crap. There’s nothing to them. if you get a store-bought packaged meal, there’s nothing in it that makes you happy to eat it. But the food you get at Two Good is nourishing and healthy.

If I could send a message to the women in the shelters we serve, I’d say, this meal was intentionally made with love for you. There are people out there who really care and are working towards an inclusive society. There’s a lot of good in this world. Don’t give up.”

WORK WORK.

"The Work Work program at Two Good has absolutely changed the course of my life.

I was very fearful of getting back into the workforce, as I hadn’t worked a legitimate job for a very long time. But coming into such a nurturing and understanding environment has helped me to grow immensely and done wonders for my self esteem and self confidence. Two Good has been a real pillar in my journey of getting my life back.

The consistency of coming to work on time and completing tasks assigned to me, doing that day in day out…after a while, I realised just how capable I am as an employee, given the chance. Having an income, being financially independent and secure - being able to afford things that come up (bills, shopping, car insurance etc) has helped so much!

Self-doubt has crept up a lot in the past and kept me from doing things that I wanted to do. But I’ve learnt that I’m very capable - and that the workforce is not as scary as I thought it was. Even though I know Two Good is a particularly special workplace.

There’s been so many proud moments whilst being here. I'm not only proud of my own achievements, but seeing other women grow alongside me too and showing up every day - for myself and for others - has been such an incredible and rewarding experience.

I think there are a lot of women out there who are, or will be, in a similar position – who haven’t been employed for a long time and don’t know where to start. The chances of getting employed by other companies are pretty slim, when you have a massive gap in your resume; it can be extremely overwhelming to break that cycle.

Programs like Work Work are very important for our communities; it could help change a lot of lives, as it has mine. Being shown kindness and being given the opportunity to learn and grow can be life-changing."

CHANGING
THE COURSE.

“I will be forever grateful for Two Good - it came along at just the right time.”

I was in a rehab called Detour House in Sydney - every Thursday morning, G would drop the Two Good meals off. Everyone would drop what they were doing to see what we had received. They were such beautifully packaged and delicious meals to have in the fridge. That’s how I first learnt of Two Good – however, I didn’t know much about its background.

Not until a couple of friends of mine went through the Work Work program and explained how Two Good worked. These women had such amazing things to say about it and it made me realise that I really wanted to do it, too.

I experienced a lot of different hardships over my life. I experienced a lot of trauma - domestic violence, sexual abuse. Through that, I suffered with addiction, an eating disorder, depression /anxiety and PTSD.

I was trapped in this horrible lifestyle and was going to die if I continued to live that way. I didn’t want that to be my story and I decided to go to rehab. There, I got a glimpse of what life could be without using drugs - and I loved it, but it didn’t stick. I continued to be in and out of rehabs for many years…but eventually, I managed to stay clean and sober.

I am now over a year sober and never want to go backwards. I slowly started introducing things back into my life again, taking on more responsibilities. Eventually I was ready and stable enough in my recovery ready to take the next step -to work again.

I hadn’t worked a ‘real’ job in a very long time - but I saw this opportunity come up at Two Good and I jumped on it. I remember my first day and leading up to starting work here - I was nervous, but I was so excited. I remember thinking, thank god this exists - I have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment and I can be myself, and not have to hide where I’ve come from. Most importantly, somewhere I won’t be judged.

“My past has made me very resilient…but Two Good has been a pivotal step towards creating a positive future for myself.”

When I think about Two Good, I’m filled with such warm feelings of happiness and gratitude. The purpose of this company – it’s just so beautiful. It’s such an incredible thing that Rob has created, as well as all the people that are involved with making Two Good what it is.

I had no idea that there were companies out there like this, that actually care about people and their wellbeing. The more I learn about this company…I’m just absolutely blown away at the fact that something like this exists. It’s such a meaningful cause. It really touches my heart.

To all the people who support Two Good - thank you so much. It really has made a very positive difference in my life, as well as many other women. And will do, for many more women in the future.”

TWOMORROW.

"I’m currently looking at my emails every two seconds – I’m waiting to hear back from a job interview that I had last week. They were checking my references yesterday and today, and I’m waiting to hear the answer - so if I get this job, I’ll be working at a law firm in the city, as a receptionist.

I’m also studying a Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship & New Business. I’m really interested in fitness and nutrition, so I’d like to start my own personal training business. Particularly for adolescent women who are struggling with body image issues – I’d like to teach them how to steer away from unhealthy behaviours, how to make healthy choices. So for now, I’m just continuing to chip away at a future and putting the next right foot in front of the other.

Without Two Good’s support and encouragement over the past 6 months, I don’t know where I would be. I’m really excited about my future now."