Salvation Army, Hastings says demand for food parcels has spiked. Photo / Paul Taylor
Salvation Army, Hastings says demand for food parcels has spiked. Photo / Paul Taylor
More people are reaching out to organisations like Salvation Army for food parcels this lockdown than the previous lockdown.
A spokeswoman for the Salvation Army in Hastings said more people were reaching out to receive help for food than before.
During lockdown last year 145 food parcels were givenout. This year over the two weeks 177 parcels have been given out including 140 food parcels this week.
"Many people coming to us are struggling because they work on contract, and are not being paid at this time, or their hours have been reduced," she said.
"Many are also finding having children at home during the day, who often have breakfast and/or lunch at school, is putting a lot of pressure on the food budget.
"The Salvation Army is here to support people, but we do ask that people contact MSD in the first instance."
Carol Bevis. Photo / NZME
Carol Bevis, secretary of Hawke's Bay Primary Principals Association, said for some families living in emergency housing, who were already challenged by confined spaces, the lockdown was proving to be hard for learning.
"Trying to access learning with no devices is hard," Bevis said.
"The lockdown was very sudden this time so it was quite a shock to the system. The families didn't have time to prepare, so we have had a fair few families get in touch wanting support with devices so they can access online learning.
"I had one get in touch with two teenage sons. Both need devices to learn, and the parents need them to work.
"I dropped off devices. These families are struggling to juggle work, and manage the kids at the same time. And I think it's all about finding a balance."
She said she'd heard of some schools arranging lunch drop-offs.
"These schools are the ones who provided school lunches, and they had excess food which could be delivered," she said.
"Principals and teachers across the region are being very responsive and are trying their very best for the families."
Flaxmere councillor and Hastings ambassador Henare O'Keefe said he got several calls a day and he triaged the calls.
"People are calling me for several things - groceries, food, wood, and loneliness being the biggies," he said.
"I either help them out or connect them to someone who can. I've had a very dear friend of mine buy $500 worth of groceries for a family in Clive.
"The lockdown has just resulted in tightening the screws on families already struggling."
Hastings Karamu Rotary member John Roil said the rotary had helped three families since lockdown, with firewood.
"We've had 120 bags of firewood in storage and when need them I deliver to those in need," Roil said.
"I take a truckload around with a hoist and deliver them. The lockdown has been a real eye-opener for me. I've been around to a family who had chopped up their furniture to keep warm.
"It's really sad, but we help where we can."
Dr Marcos Pelenur, of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, said under level 4 lockdowns, there wasn't much homeowners could do to ensure their house was well-insulated, but said to take note of drafts and cold spots to look at that when the country opens up again.
He encouraged people to check their hot water use - which made up about 30 per cent of household energy use.
"One of the easiest ways to lower your energy bill is to cut back on any hot water you don't need to use. That means shorter showers, and cold cycles on the washing machine," he said.
"Only heat rooms when you're using them, and turn off heaters at other times."
Cleaning heat pump filters can also increase efficiency and he recommended setting it to "heat" rather than "auto".
Lights played a small part in power use, but it added up – make sure you turn them off when not in use, or switch to LEDs, which you can get from the supermarket, he said.
