Mayoral Support For Food Banks

Friday, 10 January 2025, 10:08 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

North Canterbury’s mayors are getting in behind the region’s food banks, as they come under ongoing pressure amid the cost of living crisis.

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon visited the district’s food banks in the lead up to Christmas, while Hurunui Mayor Marie Black joined the Toot for Tucker food drive in Amberley last month.

‘‘I visited the food banks before Christmas because they are unsung heroes,’’ Mr Gordon said.

‘‘There is a real need out there, so thankfully we do have our food banks there to help people without judgement.’’

The Waimakariri district has four food banks run by the Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust in Kaiapoi, the Salvation Army and the Hope Community Trust in Rangiora, and the Oxford Community Trust.

Hurunui Mayor Marie Black said support for the Hurunui district’s three food banks is ‘‘a great example of community unity’’.

Locals were out in force across the district in the Toot for Tucker food drive last month, she said.

‘‘From the fire brigades, to Lions, mums and dads, the council’s community team and even the Mayor’s husband, the unity shown and people giving so generously has been amazing.

‘‘It has been a tough year for people, so it’s good to do our bit to make sure families are not missing out at this time of year.’’

Mrs Black said the food banks, run by churches in Waikari and Waipara, and a local family in Amberley, were well-stocked in the lead up to Christmas.

‘‘I was talking with the food bank people and there has been times when the stores have been low, but something always seems to come along and their food banks are full again.’’

The Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust’s Kaiapoi food bank supports families throughout the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts.

More than 200 food parcels, supplemented with Christmas gifts, with distributed to families in need in the week leading up to Christmas Day.

Trust manager Deirdre Ryan said demand was high throughout last year, with people asking about food parcels for Christmas, back in November.

‘‘This is consistent with the upwards trend in demand we’ve been seeing all year.

‘‘In the six months between March and September, the Food Bank experienced an 81 percent increase in demand.’’

Job layoffs have been a major factor, she said.

‘‘Because of job layoffs we are seeing people come in for food who have never needed to access our services before.’’

Ms Ryan said the trust receives no funding for the food bank and relies on community support.

Donations from the Toot for Tucker food drive on December 3 gave the food bank a major boost, along with support from local businesses and the wider community.

Ms Ryan said the food bank was receiving cash donations to buy food for families in need right up until Christmas.

The Kaiapoi food bank gave out 351 food parcels in the January to March quarter, 409 in the April to June quarter, and 605 in period from July to September.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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