Food Bank seeking donations due to increasing demand
Nelson Community Food Bank manager Daniel Grade, left, with volunteers Treena Smith, Lyndsay O’Hanlon, and Philippa Orphan. Photo: Supplied.
The Nelson Community Food Bank (NCFB) is seeing an increasing demand for food parcels as many local families struggle to keep up with the rising cost of living.
Because of this, they are appealing for donations for their mid-winter food drive.
“The demand for our services has never been higher,” says NCFB manager Daniel Grade.
May 2023 saw a 55 per cent increase in people receiving food parcels and a 46 per cent increase in the number of orders received.
“For the last quarter, the number of people receiving food assistance from the NCFB is up 39 per cent. For the last financial year, the number of orders is up 23 per cent and the number of people receiving food assistance is up 33 per cent,” Daniel says.
As with many households and businesses across the country, the NCFB is having to tighten its belt.
Recent statistics show that grocery food prices are up 14 per cent, fruit and vegetables are up 22.5 per cent, and meat, poultry, and fish are up 9.5 per cent.
As a result, the NCFB is calling on the community to donate items to help keep up with the demand this winter.
The most helpful items that they would like people to donate are cereal, instant coffee, oats, packet soup, baked beans, instant noodles, tinned fruit, crackers, biscuits, rice, pasta, jam, peanut butter, tinned tomatoes, pasta sauce, and toiletries.
Daniel says the response from the community so far has been positive.
“The response to the NCFB Christmas donation drive was phenomenal and we were amazed at the incredible generosity of our community.
“The NCFB has reached out to many of the organisations that took part in the Christmas donation drive and the response has been extremely positive regarding the mid-winter drive.”
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In addition to this, the NCFB is reaching out to many of the schools and businesses across the region that were not involved during the Christmas drive.
“We are asking businesses and schools to ask their employees and students to bring in non-perishable pantry items during a time in July that suits them and then the NCFB will collect the donations.”
Goods can be donated at the NCFB located at the Habitat for Humanity complex at 166 Tahunanui Drive, Fresh Choice Nelson, New World Nelson, Countdown Trafalgar Park, Countdown Stoke, and Countdown Richmond. New World Stoke offers the opportunity to purchase $20 pre-packed ‘Family 2 Family’ bags that contain many of the preferable pantry items.
You can also donate directly to the NCFB Givealitte page, or to make a monetary donation, contact [email protected]