Defence On Mission To Assist Food Banks

The Auckland City Mission will be one of the many community food banks which will benefit from the generosity of the Defence Force’s nation-wide drive to collect canned food during October.

The campaign, called Mission Kiwi Can, will involve personnel from the Navy, Army and Air Force, as well as Navy Reserve and Territorial Force units throughout the country collecting canned food stuffs for food banks. Mission Kiwi Can starts on 1 October and will conclude on 15 October, when the collected cans will be handed over to the food banks.

This is the second year the Defence Force has run Mission Kiwi Can.

Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, says, “Last year we donated over 6,500 cans to food banks around the country, which we collected at the same time many of our people were busy responding to the tsunami relief effort in Samoa.

“So this year I have challenged our people to try and double the donation of cans given in 2009. The donations will make a huge difference to families in need, especially in the weeks prior to Christmas.”

Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson said, “The Auckland City Mission has had a long history of support from the armed forces. It is wonderful to see the whole of the New Zealand Defence Force come together to support charities with Mission Kiwi Can.

“Each year the Mission distributes over $2.5 million of food to individuals and families. Assistance with food and social work support enables people to cope with their present situation and plan for a brighter future.”

ENDS

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