With support from Foodstuffs South Island, Christchurch City Mission is proud to announce the launch of the South Island's first self-serve Foodbank on Friday, 23 June 2023, at 2.30 pm.
The new-style foodbank will operate from the Christchurch City Mission's new Foodbank building and warehouse at 275 Hereford Street. This site will offer the Mission's traditional food parcel collection service and a new self-serve Foodbank operation, intended to increase the dignity and mana of receiving food support.
In the self-serve operation, City Mission clients can create food parcels using trolleys and select food from shelves as they would in a supermarket, replacing the need to queue for a pre-filled food box.
City Missioner Corinne Haines said being able to choose food personally would be mana-enhancing for the Mission's clients. Choosing their food allows them to be supplied with food they are more likely to use and enjoy.
Corinne Haines said she appreciated the support Foodstuffs South Island had given the City Mission in helping to set up the self-serve foodbank, especially the provision of the shelving and the point-of-sale equipment.
Under the new self-serve approach, clients will receive a regular assessment by City Mission staff before being allocated points based on how many people there are in the family being fed. They can then "shop" with a trolley, selecting food and spending their points. Staff and volunteers also plan to offer food education guidance while the clients shop.
Mary Devine, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs South Island, said that through actively supporting Christchurch City Mission's new self-serve foodbank, the co-operative was helping provide dignified food support and hoping to make a real difference.
"We're a 100 percent New Zealand-owned co-operative, and our stores and teams serve nearly every community in the South Island. We must do our bit, especially when budgets are stretched like never before."
"We are very interested to see how the City Mission community receives this new self-serve approach."
Foodstuffs South Island's support centre and store teams have shared their retail expertise to layout and set up the new foodbank, donating equipment, providing training, and working with supply partners to source free or discounted racking, shelving, trolleys and product.
Last year alone, the Christchurch City Mission distributed 17,000 food parcels, the equivalent of 685,000 meals for individuals and whānau in need across Canterbury.
By working together, the Christchurch City Mission and Foodstuffs South Island show how businesses can help improve access to food in a respectful and empowering way.
