Sweet treats bring much needed donations

BIG HAUL: Masterton baker Jenna Blackwell hands over a large haul of goods donated from her shop's food drive to Maureen Potts at Masterton Food Bank.

The promise of sweet treats and "thank you" cupcakes have resulted in a haul of goods for the embattled Masterton Food Bank.

Masterton resident and baker Jenna Blackwell organised a food drive through her home business Jenna's Cupcakes -- offering homebaked cupcakes and cake pops for anyone who dropped off non-perishable food items to her home.

Over two days, Jenna collected four large boxes full of tinned food, rice, pasta, cereals, preservatives, tea and coffee, which she delivered to the food bank last week. Jenna, who ran the food drive after reading the food bank was struggling to keep up with demand, said she thought the cup cakes would be a good incentive for people to donate.

"But I didn't expect to get that amount of food -- it completely took over my dining room for a couple of days," she said. "And they gave some really good quality food, not just the stuff you find in the back of your pantry. It makes you realise Wairarapa has some pretty cool people."

The food drive was also a way for Jenna to pay it forward, as she used the services of a food bank in the past.

"When you're in that kind of situation, food banks are a lifesaver. If you can help out organisations in need, you should."

The Masterton Food Bank gave out 242 food parcels in April, a 43 per cent increase on February -- leaving its cupboards nearly bare by May.

In March and April the Foodbank fed 1602 adults and children, an increase of 524 people compared with the two months prior.