Since July 2020, Sanitarium and the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) have distributed an incredible ten million breakfast servings of Weet-Bix and other cereals to over 60 NZFN Food Hubs. These hubs are on the frontlines, tackling food insecurity across the country.
However, the need for donations has become more urgent. Recent data from NZFN revealed that their Food Hubs could only meet about 60 percent of the growing demand for food assistance, leaving many families without the support they need.
Liz Cassidy-Nelson, Chief Executive of the 155 Whare Āwhina Food Hub, emphasised the importance of food donations to her community.
“The number of people seeking help keeps rising, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep our social supermarket shelves stocked. We’re deeply grateful for every food donation, but essentials like Weet-Bix and Anchor milk, staples of a classic Kiwi breakfast, remain highly sought. These are the items everyone values most,” said Cassidy-Nelson.
The call for more donations has never been clearer as food insecurity worsens. Sanitarium’s contribution has been vital for NZFN, which has seen a 30 percent decrease in the number of people its recipient Food Hubs can support over the January to June 2024 period, compared to the previous survey.
Nine in ten food hubs cited the rising cost of living as the top reason their recipients came to them for help.
NZFN Chief Executive Gavin Findlay expressed deep gratitude for Sanitarium’s unwavering support over the past four years, emphasising its powerful impact.
“We are immensely thankful for Sanitarium's generosity and continued passion for our mission. Their consistent contributions have allowed us to provide nutritious breakfasts to our communities, particularly when more and more whānau are struggling to put food on the table,” said Findlay.
“For those who have courageously reached out for help, receiving trusted and familiar household brands like Weet-Bix isn’t just about nourishment—it’s a source of comfort and empowerment during a time of immense uncertainty.”
As demand for food support intensifies, Sanitarium’s dedication has remained a critical lifeline for families facing the ongoing crisis.
“Serving our communities in need is part of our purpose to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food. So many Kiwis need a helping hand,” said Sanitarium NZ General Manager Michael Barton.
“We’re proud that our partnership with the New Zealand Food Network ensures that we can help deliver this food to the communities that need it most, building healthy, sustainable communities together.”
Sanitarium’s unwavering support has also significantly contributed to helping NZFN reach the finish line of its Pitch In initiative. As more families struggled to put food on the table, NZFN last year urgently called Kiwis to ‘Pitch In’ and (virtually) fill Auckland’s iconic Eden Park with meals by World Food Day 2024.
With the appeal coming to a close earlier this month, NZFN successfully filled the field twice, delivering 200,000 meals to Kiwis in need thanks to generous donations from individuals and food businesses such as Sanitarium.
