Foodbanks supported or run by Presbyterian churches have seen huge increases in demand during the past year.
In Wellington, Downtown Community Ministry’s foodbank has experienced a 33 percent increase in demand for food. This foodbank receives donations from St Andrew’s on the Terrace Presbyterian Church, St John’s in the City Presbyterian Church and the Ngaio Union Church.
In Auckland, Presbyterian Support Northern operates a foodbank at St David’s Presbyterian Church in Grafton. In June, demand increased by 60 percent compared to June 2008, and was up 100 percent in July on the previous year. Presbyterian Support Northern’s budget service manager Maureen Little says that demand for food parcels rises in winter “when the higher power bills come in and the household food budget gets cut”.
St John’s Presbyterian Church in Rotorua now provides its community with more than 500 food parcels each year. St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Howick has seen the number of families in need of food parcels rise from 36 in January to more than 70 in March, and there has been a 32 percent increase in food bank requirements.
Helen Matheson runs the Waipu Presbyterian Parish foodbank “for folk in the community who find themselves on hard times”. Clients find their way to the foodbank through word of mouth, by responding to the foodbank advertisements in the local newspaper or are referred by Helen’s husband Bruce, a budget advisor and debt advocate. “We don’t ask any questions the first two times,” Helen says, “but if a client’s need for food parcels is ongoing, we refer them to get advice”.
Helen says the foodbank aims to supply a suitable food parcel on the same day it is requested. “It’s made-up to meet the needs of the client; if there’s a baby, then milk powder and nappies can be added.”
Food that is filling but of dubious nutritional value is not provided because Helen wants clients to enjoy “good healthy food that can be used to make balanced meals”. Unlike many larger food banks, Waipu does not carry a stock of canned and dried foods. “People used to bring cans to the church but that food just isn’t healthy enough; it’s high in sugar and salt.”
The emphasis now is on fresh foods. A local farmer donates meat, seasonal vegetables come out of Helen’s own garden, and cheese, milk, butter, eggs, fruit, bread, potatoes, onions, rice and pasta are staples not luxuries. “There are no sugary cereals and sweets, just a packet of plain biscuits. If a client wants the ingredients to bake, I can get what’s needed”. All bought food is paid for by the Waipu Presbyterian Parish.
Helen is concerned that there are people in the community in need of food who are not coming forward. “You just don’t get to hear about everyone and there are some desperate cases. There are people suffering mental illness who just get to the point where they can no longer cope. I heard from a local shopkeeper about a mother with four hungry children and took a food box straight to her.”
Hidden hunger is not new. The 2002 National Nutrition Survey found that just over one fifth of New Zealanders reported that their household can only sometimes afford to eat properly and that food runs out because of lack of money either sometimes or often.
Young people are increasingly food bank clients at the Wadestown Presbyterian Church King’s Table food bank in Wellington. Phyllis Purdie runs the food bank, which she began 16 years ago “when the local doctor and Plunket told us there was a demand that was not being met, so we joined with the local Anglican church to provide help”. “The numbers we assist have doubled; we see a lot more couples and single people because they are just not getting the help they need.”
Phyllis says King’s Table clients come via word of mouth or respond to a notice in the local mall. Food parcels are provided “by appointment, it’s a basic food parcel that includes laundry detergent and clothing if needed”. Food is donated by regular donors and the Wadestown congregation “but if we run short we can call on the Wellington City Mission. We all help each other out”.
By Angela Singer