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Demand for food parcels, coupled with a drop in donations, has left the shelves and freezer at the Hibiscus Coast Community House’s foodbank in Orewa more or less empty.
It’s not the first time this has happened as Christmas approaches and Hibiscus Coast Community House manager Christine Alesbury says that by the end of the year, their resources can be fully stretched.
Last year a total of 480 food parcels were handed out – this year so far, the numbers are looking similar, with 416 parcels given out to the end of October, but meanwhile the amount of donations coming in has dropped.
In addition, last year the foodbank provided local families in need with a record 137 Christmas food parcels – the Christmas packages are given out only on referral from agencies such as Parent Aid, Women’s Refuge and WINZ.
Christine says demand for food is growing.
“We have noticed there are a lot of new people coming through, including itinerant and homeless people or new residents.” Christine says.
All the items stocked by the foodbank are either donated, or purchased by the Community House with limited resources that come from grants, donations and sales from its Western Reserve Op Shop.
Local churches, businesses such as Railblaza in Silverdale, and charities Love Soup Hibiscus Coast and Rotary make regular donations. One generous private donor from Gulf Harbour has been supporting the foodbank for years, funding its supply of Christmas chickens.
Christine says right now many basic food items that are handed out with every parcel have almost gone – things like UHT milk, tea, coffee, simple breakfast cereals such as Weetbix and cornflakes, spreads, biscuits and crackers.
The foodbank has also had to dip into its resources to restock perishable food such as fresh fruit and vegetables, margarine, sausages and mince and the freezer is very low on pies, meat, loaves of bread and frozen vegetables.
There are good supplies of some other staples such as noodles, pasta and rice – and, while there are plenty of tinned tomatoes following a big donation, tinned fish and petfood is very short.
There are almost no gluten free and sugar free items left. Christine says they ask about allergies or special dietary needs when people need a food parcel and sometimes they have nothing in stock to meet those requirements. “Gluten free and other special foods, such as things suitable for diabetics, can be expensive to buy which is probably why they are not often donated,” she says.
“We are pretty sure we’ll get enough special items for our Christmas parcels, but we’re desperate for the basic foods and anything that individuals, businesses or organisations in the community can spare would make all the difference to the people who come to us needing food,” Christine says.
Sallies seek help with hampers
The Hibiscus Coast Salvation Army’s foodbank is seeking assistance from the community to help it fill its Christmas hampers.
This year, to date, its foodbank in Red Beach has handed out nearly 700 food parcels. The foodbank is stocked via regular donations from local Countdown supermarkets, Dad’s Pies and individuals.
Hibiscus Coast Salvation Army captain/pastor Ben Schischka says that the number of food parcels it provides has gone up rapidly in the last couple of years. The foodbank is open once a week. “We might have given out 10 or 12 parcels in a big morning and now it’s crept up to 18-25 each time,” Ben says.
The food parcels are available to anyone in need, and the Salvation Army also works with each person to provide budgeting advice and other support.
“We try not to be too clinical – we have it set up like a cafe, and one of the case workers will chat with each person and go from there,” he says.
Ben says often the parcels go to people who have recently relocated to the area, single parents where broken relationships are taking a financial toll, and contract workers who are temporarily on a benefit.
Last year, the local Salvation Army also filled 80 Christmas hampers with festive food and gifts and this year expects that a similar number will be needed.
In particular, Christmas puddings, mince pies, tinned fruit and vegetables, fruit juice, soft drinks, gravy mix, Christmas crackers, biscuits and sweets are needed.
How you can help
Donations of non-perishable food (nothing past its use by date) can be dropped into the Community House in Western Reserve, Orewa (behind Estuary Arts Centre), during its opening hours, 10am–3pm weekdays, or left in the collection bins at Orewa New World or Kiwibank Orewa. Donations can be made until the Community House closes on December 13.
• Donations for the Salvation Army’s Christmas hampers can be dropped off at the Hibiscus Coast Salvation Army Community Centre, 32 Greenview Lane, Red Beach, from 9am-12 noon on Tuesdays. Unwrapped gifts for children and teenagers would also be appreciated. Info: phone/leave a message on 426 0239.
