The food bank relies on a mix of food donations from the community and other items bought with Salvation Army funds.
These funds come from donations and proceeds from the Salvation Army Family Store.
The food bank doors are opened on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to provide food parcels to people most in need.
The parcels are a temporary solution to help people who are struggling to feed themselves and their families while they get back on track.
“We do everything we can to make sure the food goes where it is most needed — to families and singles. We also provide some smaller parcels made up of pantry essentials,” Mr Koia says.
They try to shop locally for food, including meat, and often buy in bulk to get the best prices.
Money raised through the Winter Appeal also helps pay for other Salvation Army services like Nga Rito — a mums and babies playgroup that meets Thursdays and Fridays.
Mr Koia said he was seeing more people struggling with their mental health.
“The Winter Appeal is huge for us. Here in Tairāwhiti we’re seeing more people using our services. They’re often the ones who fall through the cracks — like the homeless.
We’re trying to bring a bit of love and joy into their lives, even if it’s just by offering a cuppa and someone to talk to and share with.”
The Winter Appeal provides essential support to families in need during the challenging winter months and in the midst of the recession, high inflation and housing costs.
“The cost-of-living crisis continues to place immense strain on families across the country,” assistant territorial secretary for Mission Lt. Colonel Lynette Hutson says.
“At the same time, the Salvation Army itself is grappling with ballooning food and grocery prices and increasing costs associated with its other community-based social services, including supported accommodation, financial mentoring and counselling, addiction services and Positive Lifestyle programmes.”
A donor who gave $30 last year, for example, would have supported the purchase of a small food parcel.Today the same donation would contribute to less than one-third of the same food parcel which now costs $100.
Similarly, a medium food parcel that cost $60 last year is now $160, while a large food parcel has risen from $90 last year to $220 today.
“Our food parcels are a constant lifeline to New Zealand families in need, helping to keep them sustained and nourished,” says Lt. Colonel Hutson.
“But it feels like we are in a perfect storm at the moment with our costs rising, the level of need in the community expected to increase and donors having less money to give.
“Our mission is to help vulnerable people, supported in our work by generous donors. In the current difficult economic environment, all we can do is ask that those who are able to, give what support they can.”
People can make a donation at the Salvation Army base on Gladstone Road, at the Family Store also on Gladstone Road or online. More information about the Winter Appeal, including how to donate, is available on The Salvation Army website www.salvationarmy.org.nz/winterappeal
