Kiwi Harvest Invercargill, Rotary Satellite Club Southland and Active Southland have partnered up to deliver play packs to the community, thanks to funding from Sport New Zealand. Each pack will include a range of sporting equipment from tennis to rugby. A total of 80 families will receive a package to foster their overall well-being, get them active and help them gain confidence.
“We are so proud to launch this initiative and incredibly grateful to Tū Manawa, Rotary and Active Southland for their encouragement and support in this endeavour. We hope to create a positive change in the community and in the wellbeing of our tamariki and rangatahi,” said Jessie Beer, KiwiHarvest Invercargill Branch Manager.
“KiwiHarvest exists to address our nation’s dual problems of food waste and food insecurity by preventing good edible food from ending up in the bin. We love being able to nourish families in need, and it now brings us great joy to be able to offer more than kai.”
The $10,000 funding came from Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa (Sport NZ) earlier in December.
“Our Healthy Families Invercargill team have worked with KiwiHarvest since it first arrived in Invercargill last year. Working with them on the Play Packs initiative is a fantastic way to not only work with communities that may not have access to the same opportunities as more densely populated areas, but to ensure that the wellbeing of our region is enhanced as a result,” said Megan Dawson, Active Southland – Healthy Families Invercargill’s Play Systems Innovator.
“Our members are looking forward to partnering with KiwiHarvest again to help collect and deliver sports and play activities and make a real difference. They love volunteering at KiwiHarvest and the knowledge that their contribution is going to feed more and waste less in our community,” said Sharon Hamilton, Rotary Satellite Club Southland Chair.
