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Food rescue charity Love Soup Hibiscus Coast is seeing unprecedented demand for its services, surpassing its busiest times during previous lockdowns.
Director Julie King says at the same time, food supplies are very low.
Love Soup, based in Whangaparaoa Hall, provides food that would otherwise go to waste to those in need, including homeless people.
The service rescues a lot of its food from supermarkets but Julie says panic buying has greatly reduced what those businesses have to spare.
She says local small businesses, cafés and restaurants, have swung in with anything that they can offer.
“It’s hard taking from them, because you know they are struggling, so we are really grateful,” she says.
Julie says shortage of supply has hit all food rescue charities. Last lockdown they got help from Government, including pallets of food.
An organsation that represents the sector, Aotearoa Food Fescue Alliance (AFRA) is holding an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Social Development today in hope of reinstating that help.
In the meantime, Julie says they need “anything and everything – apart from lettuce!”
“Even bread, which is normally in abundance, is in short supply,” she says.
If anyone has excess fruit or vegetables in their garden, it would be very welcome. Message Lovesoup Hibiscus Coast on Facebook – they can arrange contactless pick up of bags of fruit or vegetables.
