Foodstuffs North Island has given a $30,000 boost to organisations providing much-needed support to the Manawatū-Whanganui communities.
They have donated $10,000 each to Hope Hub, Just Zilch, and the Whanganui Kai Hub. Willa Hand, Foodstuffs North Island Head of Membership Experience, said the donation was part of the co-operative's ongoing commitment to be HereforNZ, ensuring New Zealanders have access to healthy and affordable food.
“Food rescue organisations are an important partner for us, helping redirect food to the community that would otherwise have gone to landfill,” said Hand.
“The work of Hope Hub, Just Zilch and the Whanganui Kai Hub is essential, and we’ve built great relationships through the support provided by our local PAK’nSAVE and New World supermarkets, but we wanted to contribute even more towards the important work they do.”
Just Zilch is a food rescue and free store based in Palmerston North. Its team of nearly 100 volunteers collects surplus food from local businesses and organisations, making it accessible for anyone facing food insecurity.
“Foodstuffs North Island have always been supportive, and we source a significant portion of our food from their Palmerston North Distribution Centre and local supermarkets like New World Pioneer, but this extra help comes at a crucial time,” said Rebecca Culver, Managing Director of Just Zilch.
"As much as we’re a volunteer-run organisation, it’s still important we look after our staff. This grant will allow us to invest further in our team, ultimately allowing us to serve the community even better."
Kai Hub, a Whanganui-based food rescue and redistribution organisation, has also taken an approach to developing a sustainable kai system. It's part of a city-wide collective called the Whanganui Food Security Co-Operative, partnering with five other local food rescues to increase the scope and scale of its operations.
2024 is a year of growth for Kai Hub. General Manager Stephen Lee said the grant will allow them to collect and distribute food more efficiently to the 17 community agencies that serve Whanganui's public.
“This will involve being able to plan and improve so that we can be even more effective in our community. This funding enables us to do this,” said Lee.
“Without this funding, the entire Whanganui ecosystem enabling this to happen would be severely impacted. So, we’re extremely grateful to Foodstuffs for identifying this need and supporting us.”
Hope Hub is the third major Manawatu food rescue organisation to receive a grant from Foodstuffs North Island. Hope Hub has collaborated with local schools, collecting uneaten produce and leftover food from lunches and making it available at its free store.
"We are very grateful and excited to have received this grant from Foodstuffs. It will go towards our operational costs, which we cannot run, so this makes all the difference," said Charlotte Birkett, Hope Hub Store supervisor.
"More than ever, food insecurity is a massive issue facing our community and New Zealand as a whole, not only for those who aren't working but for those who are. Grants like these are essential in helping us continue to help make up for some of the deficit our community is facing."
Foodstuffs North Island and its Here for NZ fund support reducing food waste and emissions and redirecting surplus food for communities in need. This year, Foodstuffs North Island has donated 14 Food Rescues, totalling $140,000.
More news here
