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Warkworth Lions has come up with an even easier way for locals to donate food to help families whose kitchen cupboards may otherwise be a little bare this Christmas.
They will taking to the streets around Warkworth and Snells Beach on Sunday, December 11 to collect food for local foodbanks.
“Some locals are facing a Christmas that will be far from festive,” Lions member Peter Henderson says.
“Foodbanks are stretched to breaking point trying to keep up with requests for food and it will only get worse over Christmas.”
Toot for Food is an initiative to collect non-perishable foodstuffs to supplement the foodbanks’ depleted stocks. It started in the South Island and has now spread north.
Warkworth Lions are organising street pick-ups on December 11, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
“You will hear the horns as we enter your street,” Henderson says.
“Simply be ready to take your donation out to the collectors in the street and they will get it to the Mahu Food link for distribution.
“The collection won’t be door-to-door, so keep an ear out for the tooting and the Warkworth Lions and volunteers will be very happy to take your donation.”
The route is similar to Santa’s journey through Warkworth, Snells Beach and Algies Bay on December 5 and 7.
For enquiries, contact Bruce Clegg 021 193 5142 or David Little 021 047 6317.
Need for food greater than ever
The Warkworth Christian Foodlink has increased its delivery of food parcels by 62 per cent this year.
In the 10-month period to October 31, 1009 parcels were delivered to 2187 adults and 2080 children.
This compares to the same period last year, when 623 parcels were delivered to 1169 adults and 1224 children.
Manager Roger Mackay says one of the major goals during the last two years has been to provide an increased level of food for people, families and whanau experiencing food insecurity due to financial hardships and the economic shocks caused by Covid-19.
Families can find themselves short of food due to circumstances such as unemployment, sickness, housing, vehicle repairs, maintenance and electricity bills.
“Homes to rent in the greater Warkworth region are in short supply and people on fixed incomes or benefits find it extremely difficult to find affordable housing even when the household has employment,” Mackay says.
“A recent trend has been the supply of food parcels to people who have a job but are finding it difficult to make ends meet with the rising costs and especially if they face an unexpected expense.”
Foodlink is investigating what steps, if any, need to be taken towards creating a food secure community in Warkworth and the wider Mahurangi area. Food security in developed countries is defined as access to nutritionally adequate, safe and personally acceptable foods, and the ability to acquire them in a socially acceptable way.
Foodlink started in 1992 as a joint venture of churches in Warkworth/Mahurangi and today is supported by the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Ablaze congregations. It is one of the significant ways the Mahurangi community helps care for its people.
“There is widespread support from community groups including Lions and Rotary Food Rescue, local business houses, supermarkets and schools, as well as generous individuals and families. This support comes in the way of donated goods, fresh fruit and produce, as well as financial donations.”
