Hibiscus Matters_Issue 272_20 November 2019

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localmatters.co.nz

November 20, 2019

Your locally-owned Community Newspaper FREE

Foodbank shelves bare as Christmas looms

Community House manager Christine Alesbury says stocks of many staple items are critically low at the foodbank in Orewa.

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. continued page 2

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Hibiscus Matters_Issue 272_20 November 2019 by Localmatters - Issuu