Ahuriri Hub delivers more than 1500 care packages and hygiene packs around Napier. Photo / Supplied
Ahuriri Hub delivers more than 1500 care packages and hygiene packs around Napier. Photo / Supplied
A Napier group has delivered 1500 food and health packages to residents in need.
The Ahuriri Hub distributed the care parcels and hygiene packs to families and elderly in the Napier community, free.
Tania Eden, who set up the hub just before the nationwide lockdown began, said a team of five volunteers are the backbone of the scheme.
"A lot of social agencies closed their doors when lockdown began, which meant we needed to think what we could do to help," she said.
"The care packages include mainly food, with some hygiene packs too with hand sanitisers and so on. And last week we distributed thousands of Easter eggs, too."
Eden added: "We've got another 800 packs to be delivered this week to our most vulnerable, including 163 elderly residents over the age of 70 who need our help in Napier."
The Ahuriri Hub is made up of volunteers. Photo / Supplied
The voluntary scheme, which comes under the Government's essential services, works in partnership with Government agencies, as well as Nourished For Nil, New World, food and health supplies and Hawke's Bay growers.
Eden said the city of Napier is often overlooked when it comes to families in need and wanted to set the record straight.
"I think sometimes people assume Napier doesn't have any families in need, as people assume its places like Flaxmere and so on, but we do too," she said.
"Lots of these families don't live in the leafy green suburbs or have unlimited Wi-Fi and therefore cannot order groceries online. And these people are a big part of the community and someone has to help them."
Eden added: "We've been sending food packs to people with disabilities, elderly, vulnerable families who don't have the means or transport options to get to a supermarket."
The voluntary scheme distributes food and hygiene parcels to elderly and vulnerable families around the city. Photo / Supplied
The hub, based in Sale St, Ahuriri, offers food to families, the elderly and vulnerable residents with no means of going to supermarkets.
"A big part of it has been distributing to the elderly," she said. "We turn up to houses of elderly people and they're at the door crying because they've not had contact with anybody."
Eden added: "We have even started getting a lot of referrals from Civil Defence and Ministry of Social Development, who refer emergency families to us or those in transitional and emergency housing."
