More than 14000 free meals given to Otara community

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Members of the Otara community have eaten more than 14000 free meals thanks to the Ōtara Kai Village project.

Residents, food banks, The Ministry of Social Development and Foundation North are backing the initiative which aims to help struggling families.

Swanie Nelson, local Board member and Ōtara Kai Village Founder, said Otara was one of the suburbs the most severely impacted by Covid-19.

"We had the highest wage subsidy requests and the highest requests for the emergency care packages."

The mainly volunteer group works with retailers and manufacturers to support locals impacted by COVID-19 and redistribute food that would otherwise go to waste.

Residents, community groups and students from colleges in the district prepare free meals during the week in a container donated by Panuku by the AT Otara Transit Centre.

A cafe along with a Maori and Pacific boutique are open to entrepreneurs wanting to start their own businesses and to community groups running fundraising ventures.

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