Since meeting the team, garden owners, including David and Cathy Sprod, have been sharing their homegrown fruit and veg with the charity’s kitchen. Donating excess produce is a practical way to help feed South Australians who are doing it tough.

Food on the Table chair Mike Chalmers thanked everyone for supporting the Harvest Garden Festival, telling us that our help is needed more than ever.

“The reality is that things out there are getting tougher by the day for people, which is why our big annual fundraiser coming up on the night of Thursday 4 June, is so important to us.

“If any of you would like to join us, it goes without saying we would love to have you with us!”

How it works

On Thursday, June 4th 2026, we’ll come together to prepare meals in Food on the Table’s kitchen. Throughout the evening, we’ll also hear powerful, real-life stories from individuals who have experienced hardship and homelessness firsthand, offering a human perspective on the challenges many in our community face.

To finish the night, we’ll step outside into our car park and sleep rough together with nothing more than a piece of cardboard under the stars. It’s a humbling experience designed to give just a small glimpse into the reality faced by so many, and a chance to walk in their shoes for just one cold winter night.

All proceeds from the night go directly towards providing fresh, nutritious meals to people doing it tough.

If you would like to add to Open Gardens SA’s support of this worthwhile cause, you can support Soup & Sleep by:

• registering to participate and join us on the night
• making a fully tax-deductible donation

• raising money through your own community, sponsoring you to sleep rough for the night

  Register, donate or read more