Big freeze for Picton Foodbank welcomed

WILLIAM WOODWORTH

Picton Foodbank volunteers are seeing more demand for the vital service – now a special donation will make helping others even easier.

Kind-hearted members of the Picton Lions Club have fundraised $3600 for two new fridge-freezers.

And as more people rely on the service than ever before, the two additions mean more people in Picton can benefit.

Volunteers Barbara Jones, Jean Faithful and Carol Anderson have seen a major rise in need recently.

“The people we serve is increasing all the time now – an average would be about 15 families a week.

“We’d have our normal regulars and a few new ones but it’s continuously new families all the time now”, says Barbara.

“The people that need our help come from across the board from pensioners to young people to single parents.

“They’re getting to that stage where they can’t do anything else”.

The driving force of Picton Lions’ member Joseph Larrington and the whole-hearted support of the club, means the Foodbank can supply more fresh food.

The fridge-freezer funds were generated selling kindling through local supermarkets, and Cruise Market stall fees.

“Anything we gather goes back to the community, and the foodbank is definitely a worthy cause to support”, says Joseph.

“The foodbank volunteers are really the ones that make all this happen, they do an awesome job with support from the fire brigade, Port Marlborough, local businesses, St Vincent de Paul, Picton Tyres, community mem- bers and us,” he says.

“It was really up to Joe who came up with the idea and drove it - we’re really pleased to be involved” says Lion Norman Gamble.

“We try and support young people in particular and this donation definitely does that”.

The Foodbank originated out of necessity from local churches twenty years ago.

The fire brigade also makes a major contribution with their November street appeal.

Picton Chief Fire Officer Wayne Wytenburg is more than happy to get involved.

“We’re a great resource for charitable ventures because we have the vehicles and the manpower – we’ve been doing it for several years now and it’s been really beneficial for Barbara and her team.

“Our guys and girls get a real kick out of it - it shows the generosity of the Picton community first hand.

“Funnily enough the people closer to needing the foodbank seem to donate more and that’s so impressive to see – we’re blessed for the generosity of locals from that point of view,” he says. Contact the Picton Foodbank on

0220105591 or donate at the Picton Fresh Choice drop site. Thank you to:

Picton Community, Picton Volunteer Fire Brigade, St Vinnie’s Picton, Port Marlborough, Picton Fresh Choice, Picton Tools and Tyres, Jim Anderson, Meat the Need, Various Social Clubs and Groups, Picton Churches, Waikawa Bay School, Picton Lions Club, Pizza Kebab Picton, Jim’s Automotive, Marine Services NZ Ltd, BNT Auto, Picton 4 Square, Pak n Save, Picton Early Learning Centre, Monetry Donations, Dave - ongoing meat, Barbarapre made meals, Kranky Goat.