Food parcel demand grows in Kaiapoi

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

A growing need in the community for food parcels is ‘‘deeply concerning’’, but not surprising, says Waimakariri deputy mayor Neville Atkinson.

The Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust’s Kaiapoi food bank has given out 1585 food parcels so far this year, compared to last year’s total of 548.

‘‘It shows how tough it is for families and it is not just those on low wages, it is getting into the medium income earners as well,’’ Atkinson said.

‘‘Inflation is so high and prices are ridiculous, so the country needs to take stock of where it is.

‘‘Unfortunately it has been bubbling away for quite a while, as wages haven’t been keeping up with inflation, but there is no easy solution.’’

Atkinson said the region’s welfare teams were working hard behind the scenes to support families in need, but they urgently needed help.

The Kaiapoi food bank is run by Kaiapoi Community Support, a division of Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust, and is housed in the Waimakariri District Council-owned Kaiapoi Community Centre.

Trust manager Deirdre Ryan said her organisation had been facing funding gaps as it struggled to meet a growing need in the community.

While the trust has government contracts to pay wages and run programmes such as Mana Ake, which works in local primary schools, and has support from the Waimakariri and Hurunui councils, it relies on community support.

‘‘We have no government contract for the food bank and all our operational stuff like cars and computers we have to fundraise for.

‘‘But some of the groups and businesses who fundraise for us haven’t been able to in the last two years due to Covid.’’

As the trust looks ahead to Christmas, it is looking to the community for support as it looks to provide its annual Christmas giving programme to support families in need.

Kaiapoi New World has stepped up to offer up to $2500 of matched funding for donations to support the food bank.

The trust has also launched a new service to support parents of secondary school students.

‘‘Parents can get free advice and support to help with wellbeing,’’ Ryan said.

‘‘It could be concerns about sleeping, eating, self-harm, anxiety, gambling, alcohol, grief, loss or change and we can give advice on how to navigate mental health services.’’

Parents can contact Wellbeing on 03 310 6375 to make an appointment either in person or by video call.

The trust supports families throughout the Waimakariri and Hurunui districts.

■ The 4th annual Kaiapoi River Wellbeing Walk is being held on Saturday, November 12, meeting at the Kaiapoi Food Forest at 10am.

The event is being held to raise awareness and funds to support Community Wellbeing North Canterbury. Go to Walk for the Planet on Facebook for more information.

■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.