What is Meat the Need you ask? What do they do? Where are they based?

Wendy Richards from Volunteering New Plymouth

Meat the Need is a three-year-old charity that is farmer founded, and farmer led, they connect the dots between farmers who want to donate some of what they produce and families in need.
Produce, in the form of premium mince and milk, is donated by farmers and put into the hands of those already on the frontlines of food insecurity in NZ: food banks and community organisations. Food banks already know the needs of their local community, and it’s through them that mince and milk is given to families that need it.
Ultimately, the aim is for no one to go hungry in NZ. The belief is everyone should have access to the nutritious protein that is grown right here in NZ. Alongside farmers, Meat the Need are on a mission to achieve just that. 100% of farmer donations go directly into feeding families, whether that be livestock, milk or online donations (e.g. a ‘virtual animal’ or a ‘box of meat’).

If you’re a farmer, you can donate by signing up on their website meattheneed.org
Rural businesses can also back Meat the Need by joining via meattheneed.org/rural-business-supporter/
At Meat the Need, they are on a mission to ensure no one in New Zealand goes hungry. They do this by taking generous livestock donations from farmers and turning this into mince meat, which is donated to food banks across New Zealand. They also receive milk donations and distribute these out through the Feed Out programme. In the four years of operation, they have supplied 2.1 million mince and milk meals to families in need and support over 130 food banks and community organisations nationwide.
Meat the Need and Feed Out has some lofty goals. To help them achieve these goals they are looking for volunteers to be a part of their Champion programme. This is an opportunity for people across the country to become involved with Meat the Need, drive donations and most importantly, help fill the fridges and freezers of their local food banks. Champions will represent this charity at events and field days, look for donation giving opportunities and network with farmers.
You’ll be inducted into this charity and given the tools and support you need to be a champion. And of course, they will kit you out with branded apparel. Ultimately, they believe no one should go hungry in New Zealand and they would love you to be a part of helping them achieve that.
If this sounds like you, they would love you to apply! Go to their website meattheneed.org/becomeachampion/ Or listen to Access Radio Taranaki 104.4fm on Sunday 19th or 26th January, 2025 to learn more
If you would like to hear Danielle talk about the role, she and others around the country have with Meat The Need you can also find the recorded session of Volly Voices on Spotify and Apple Podcast - to find these go the either Access Radio Taranaki website where these recordings can be found under Community or go to Volunteering New Plymouth website and look under Volunteers and Volly Calls.
Or If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and / or how you can get involved then contact Wendy (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step.