Foodstuffs South Island

Foodstuffs South Island co-operative gives a $200k boost to local foodbanks and community partners

From left: Zucchi Leonard, Christchurch City Mission Social Services Manager, Lucy Boock, Chair of the Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust and owner operator of PAK’nSAVE Northlands in Christchurch with Kirsty Elstone, Christchurch City Mission Foodbank Team Lead.

 

Local recipients:

  • St Vincent de Paul, Ashburton

  • Clutha Food Hub, Balclutha

  • Blenheim – Marlborough Foodbank - Blenheim

  • Christchurch – Christchurch City Mission

  • Christchurch – Cholmondeley Children's Centre

  • Cromwell – Cromwell Foodbank

  • Dunedin – Presbyterian Support - Dunedin

  • Greymouth – Salvation Army Greymouth

  • Hokitika – Hokitika Community Trust

  • Invercargill – The Pantry Invercargill

  • Kaikoura – Te Whare Putea

  • Mosgiel - Mosgiel Foodbank

  • Nelson – Oxford Community Trust

  • Oamaru - Oamaru Foodbank 

  • Oxford - Oxford Community Trust

  • Picton – Picton Foodbank

  • Queenstown – Happiness House

  • Queenstown – Baskets of Blessings

  • Southland – The Southland Foodbank

  • Timaru – Family Works Trust - Timaru

  • Upper South Island – Presbyterian Support

  • Waimate – Waimate Community Foodbank

  • Wanaka – Community Networks Wanaka

  • Westport - St Vincent de Paul - Westport

In anticipation of an increased need from their food support partners this Christmas, Foodstuffs South Island store owners and teams are giving local foodbanks and community partners across the South Island a $200k boost this holiday season through the Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust, which is funded by the co-operative's grocer owners.It’s all part of a commitment made by the Foodstuffs South Island co-operative, to be HereforNZ, delivering on a promise to ensure South Islanders have access to healthy affordable food, which they put into action through longstanding partnerships with organisations, like the NZ Food Network and Christchurch City Mission.  All Foodstuffs South Island stores, which include PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square and Raeward Fresh are locally owned and operated by grocers who’re embedded in their communities.  As part of their on-going community support, each New World and PAK’nSAVE partners with at least one local foodbank, or community organisation, to help get food and groceries to those who need it most.
Lucy Boock, Chair of the Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust and owner of PAK’nSAVE Northlands in Christchurch says it was an easy decision to direct the $200,000 of recent Community Trust funding towards easing food insecurity for South Islanders in the form of gift cards or groceries, at what can be a challenging time of year for many.“Lots of South Island families are doing it especially tough this time of year and our community partners have been telling us that the need is greater than ever, so it made sense to provide some additional support to our amazing community partners on behalf of our grocers to ensure more South Islanders can put food on the table during this special time of year.”At last count, the Foodstuffs co-ops annually donate the equivalent of more than 6.3 million meals through their food hub partnerships, and almost $7.2 million to their local communities, as well as more than $2 million worth of product to the New Zealand Food Network, which distributes food and grocery items in bulk to local food rescue organisations. Performance and ReportsIn June of this year, Foodstuffs South Island supported long-time partner Christchurch City Mission to introduce the South Island's first self-serve foodbank where people who need food support can shop with dignity in a supermarket environment. Last year alone, the Christchurch City Mission distributed 17,000 food parcels, the equivalent of 685,000 meals for individuals and whānau in need across Canterbury.During the pandemic, the co-ops gave $1million to help New Zealanders who were facing tough times due to the impact of the pandemic. The donation enabled many of Foodstuffs South Island’s community partners to continue supporting New Zealanders at a time when they experienced significant reductions in contributions and increased demand, and also enabled our community partners to expand initiatives to get groceries to our most physically and financially vulnerable.For more information on how Foodstuffs is HereforNZ, visit Here for NZ, and to learn more about the Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust and how to apply for funding, head to Foodstuffs Community Trust.