Idea strikes a chord

Local mother Tinaya Johnston has started making lunches for families who don't have food to feed their children. She gives them fruit, homebaking and sandwiches. 19 May 2015 Daily Post photograph

Donations have been pouring in for local mum Tinaya Johnston who says she plans to be making lunches "for a very long time".

Ms Johnston said her week had been "absolutely hectic" and she was completely overwhelmed with the amount of positive feedback she had received.

"Within the first half-hour of the story going online I was bombarded. I had hundreds of Facebook notifications, more than 200 friend requests from people all around the world.

"I even had people ringing me up asking how to set up a similar initiative in their own towns."

Ms Johnston said since setting up Glenholme Lunches last week, she had secured a commercial kitchen and set up a not-for-profit bank account.

"For health and safety reasons I couldn't keep making the lunches at home so I approached Linton Park Community Centre and have been given keys to their kitchen facilities.

"I've received multiple donations and offers from people wanting to volunteer so the way I see it, we could be able to do up to a hundred lunches a day without it being too much of a strain."

Ms Johnston said she had one woman ring up offering to donate yoghurts, another offering a year's supply of jam and New Zealand company Sistema Plastics offering to donate lunch boxes.

"It's a great feeling knowing so many people and companies want to help in the same way as I do.

"I always knew there was a problem with child poverty in Rotorua and wider New Zealand but it has been really eye-opening to see just how many people genuinely need help."