The New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) has distributed over 25 million kilograms of rescued and donated food to Kiwis in need in just 3.5 years.
Rugby World Champion legend Piri Weepu and comedian and media personality Leigh Hart joined the team at NZFN.
The newest recruit, Manu Samoa, Moana Pasifika, and Counties Manukau rugby player Samuel Slade, experienced food insecurity as a child.
“When I was a kid, and finances were tight, there wasn’t always enough food at home, and I know how hard that is on families. I’m fortunate enough now to have food on the table each week for me and my family, but I know so many others are still struggling,” said Slade.
“It was awesome to be on the other side, helping those in need and seeing the scale of what NZFN is doing to help people throughout New Zealand.”
They spent the day sorting and packing donated food items as ambassadors for Pitch In, NZFN’s campaign to virtually fill Auckland’s Eden Park with 100,000 meals for Kiwi families.
“To put it in perspective, 25 million kilograms of food is equivalent to over 60 million meals, and it’s a testament to our teams' dedication and the incredible support of our donor partners,” said NZFN Chief Executive Gavin Findlay.
“However, it’s also a stark reminder that hundreds of thousands of Kiwi families struggle to put enough food on the table.”
NZFN is almost halfway through its Pitch In appeal, but there is still a long way to go.
