15 July 2011

Wellington Food Bank Benefits From Forces Fundraiser

Defence personnel in Wellington have once again come to the aid of the Wellington City Mission food bank with a large donation of canned food and cash.

For the past two weeks the New Zealand Defence Force has been running a campaign throughout the country called Mission Kiwi Can where personnel throughout the country have been asked to donate canned food for local food banks.

On Friday 15 July Wellington based personnel handed over 600 cans and $3,451.00 to Father Des Britten of the Wellington City Mission.

“This is the third year we have run Mission Kiwi Can,” said the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones.

“In the past two years we have donated a total of over 15,340 cans to food banks around the country. This year we have collected over 6,000 cans and raised over $16,000 which has been donated to food banks from Auckland to Invercargill.

“Our involvement with charities is an important part of Defence, especially where we are able to support charitable organisations in the communities where we are based.”

Wellington City Missioner Father Des Britten said, “We are delighted to be recipients of the Defence Force’s Mission Kiwi Can event again this year. This event has really grown over the past couple of years and it is a tribute to the passionate and enthusiastic Defence Force staff, that the cans they collect make such a large contribution to food banks right throughout the country. The Mission is very proud of its relationship with the Defence Force and the difference we make to so many lives through working together.”

ENDS

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