Foodbank stocks low as stressful Christmas period looms
Last week the Golden Bay community foodbank had nothing in the freezer and $25 in the bank.
"We always have some non-perishable groceries on the shelf because people and organisations are so generous," said community worker Glynn Rogers. "But it's a bit of a worry to be so short of cash and things in the freezer at this time of the year when we're coming into a busy period."
Glynn said that while pressure on the foodbank was pretty steady all year round, the time leading into Christmas was particularly busy. "There's a lot of pressure on household budgets around Christmas," said Glynn. "We'd like to have plenty of everything to distribute to people in emergency situations."
Responding to the community workers' request for assistance, all the local schools have agreed to collect groceries and cash for the foodbank.
"We'll collect donated food at school and a parent will take it in to the community centre," said Collingwood Area School principal John Garner. "It's been a while since we won the $100 that Fresh Choice donates to a local school each week. If we win one between now and the end of the year, we'll donate that to the foodbank too."
Central Takaka, Motupipi, Takaka Primary and Golden Bay High Schools have all agreed to collect for the foodbank.
Their principals were pleased to be able to help, saying that it was a worthwhile lesson for students to be made aware that people in our community sometimes struggle to make ends meet.
"Central Takaka has usually made a special effort for the foodbank at this time of the year," said acting principal Liz Batten. "The donation-collecting machine that the children made has worn out, so we'll just collect things that parents send in and make sure they get delivered to the community centre."
Glynn said that the community workers were happy to accept whatever people donated but some items were especially valuable in emergencies.
"We like to be able to give people the sort of thing that you'd want to have at home for your own family," she said. "Tea and coffee, toilet paper, disposable nappies, toothpaste, sanitary pads, breakfast cereal, baked beans and spaghetti - things like that. We like to keep some bread in the freezer and we're always happy to get meat donated. Ready-made meals like stews, casseroles and quiches are brilliant too. We can do a lot of good with cash, too."
Neil Wilson
