Sign In / Register
The Warkworth Christian Foodlink recorded its biggest month ever in August, providing 160 food parcels, helping a total of 653 people in need – 336 adults and 317 children. Amid a striking increase in requests for assistance, that record looks set to be broken again in September.
And 2023 is lining up to be a record year for the 30-year-old ministry – between January and August, it had given out 1069 parcels, reaching 4321 people. That’s on track to beat 2022, when 1247 parcels were handed out and 5278 people helped.
Fifteen years of recorded figures show the dramatic growth in the number of people the foodbank has been able to help – from 750 in 2009 to last year’s 5278.
The foodbank’s Michelle Saleupolu said the rising cost of living was the main contributing factor to the hardship being witnessed.
“Pre-covid, a large portion of our clients would have been beneficiaries, but now we have many who are working, but still can’t make ends meet.”
Michelle said that with the high costs of food, power and petrol, many do not have spare money to pay utility or medical bills, for car repairs, or to replace whiteware damaged by recent power outages.
A typical food parcel may include tinned foods, dry staples, spreads, fruit and vegetables, meat, milk and bread, and basic toiletries. The foodbank can even help with pet food, if families need it.
The foodbank is managed by the Mahu Vision Community Trust on behalf of the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches.
In Wellsford, the Loaves and Fishes Foodbank charitable trust also reported an increase in requests for help – up 60 per cent in just the last six weeks.
August saw the foodbank distribute 93 parcels, up from the usual monthly average of 50 to 60, said trust chairperson Karen Lennon.
People seeking help include those who had depleted their savings to get through, those who were working but not earning enough to make ends meet, and older people trying to juggle food bills with other pressing needs.
Like everyone else, the foodbank is itself affected by the rising cost of food as it tries to replenish its stocks.
“Our food bill’s gone up from $3000 to $6000 because of the increase in costs. A tin of baked beans we used to get for 90c is now $1.40,” said Karen. “It’s also difficult to ask the community for donations because we know that everybody’s stretched.”
In addition to helping with food, the trust refers people to other agencies.
“Our philosophy is to support people to a sustainable future,” Karen said. “We help them through the rough patch and we get this other support around them – agencies that can help them with all the other stuff.
“The community is really supportive and the volunteers have dug deep,” she said. “We have a really cool group. It’s helping lots of people and that’s what we’re there for.”
Also experiencing a busy time, Te Whai Community Trust in Mangawhai said businesses in the area were providing generous support to help meet the need.
The trust’s Symon Hunter said New World’s Family2Family campaign provided months’ worth of non-perishable items, “and we receive frequent donations from the local Four Square in Mangawhai Heads, as well as a few other organisations that have given a lot of support over the course of the year”.
“The need for support has increased dramatically this year due to significant weather events influencing people’s ability to be able to work and support themselves and the aftermath of significant flood damage,” she said.
The trust distributed 312 food parcels over the last 12 months, helping an average of 26 families each month. Last Christmas, the trust separately distributed 110 aroha baskets.
