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At the ribbon-cutting for the new Christian Foodlink building, from left, Roger Mackay, Dianne Thompson, Ron Buckton, Mahurangi Presbyterian pastor Nick McLennan and Warkworth Anglican Church vicar Rev. Peter Jenkins.
The new space has plenty of shelving for food.
After spending 28 years housed in a Presbyterian pastor’s disused private bathroom, a Warkworth foodbank has finally relocated to a dedicated storage facility.
Warkworth Christian Foodlink moved into its new 29 square metre building this month in the grounds of
Mahurangi Presbyterian Church. Foodlink is a combined effort by local churches to supply food to struggling families.
The new building features shelving for food, a fridge, freezer and space to assemble food parcels.
The opening of the new space was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a morning tea to thank those who supported construction of the new building and the food service over the years.
Inaugural Foodlink committee member Ron Buckton was on hand to cut the ribbon and said it was marvellous that the foodbank finally had a proper home.
He said the success of the service reflected the dedication of its coordinators over the years and the fact that different churches had pulled together to make it work.
Dianne Thompson, who also joined Foodlink in its early years, said sometimes people think Foodlink is only for those on benefits, but the reality is that anybody can fall on hard times.
She added that people who have been helped in the past are frequently extremely grateful and often go on to be regular donors to the service when their financial circumstances improve.
At the ribbon-cutting, Foodlink manager Roger Mackay thanked donors for their financial support, including the Warkworth Anglican Church, Ministry of Social Development and the Mahu Community Trading Post.
He said over the last 10 years, Foodlink had given away more than 5000 food boxes that had benefited around 15,000 people.
Foodlink will likely relocate again within two years following the completion of Mahurangi Presbyterian Church’s new community and activity centre on Mansel Drive.
