Community House services locked down

The foodbank and other charitable services operated by the Hibiscus Coast Community House in Orewa have been substantially shut down by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Manager Christine Alesbury says this is largely because the organisation relies on volunteers who are mainly in the over 70s age bracket and are therefore staying home, and operates from an Auckland Council owned building, which must remain closed.

Since 1990 the Community House has provided local support services which include a meeting venue, Op Shop, car seat rental programme, foodbank and breakfast in schools programme. Its volunteers liaise with other community groups including Hestia Women’s Refuge, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Steps Forward, Rodney Adult Mental Health, and Age Concern Rodney.

Christine says even before the country went into Alert Level 4, the small Op Shop, which funds some of the Community House’s services, was closed due to the need for social distancing.

Under Level 4, the entire operation has been in lockdown, despite being a charitable organisation. “Although we can supply emergency food parcels if needed by the agencies we deal with, in fact it would be difficult as there would have to be non-contact pickup,” Christine says.

Christine says that things are likely to be the same for the organisation under Alert Level 3.

“We can’t open and people are currently not able to donate to the foodbank,” Christine says. “At the moment all our sources of donations, such as churches, as well as our collection points, are effectively closed.”

She says there have been some donations in the box in New World Orewa, but that has limited capacity.

Once the foodbank can open, Christine says stocks will have to be rebuilt which will take time.

“Even though we have financial regular donations, we can’t go to the supermarket and buy in bulk because its stock is limited,” she says.

She says there are many unknowns, but that it is likely that even when some sort of service can resume, any pickups or donations will have to be non-contact for some time.