KiwiHarvest's efforts to support families in need

Welcome to The Outlet, your local podcast for Queenstown

In this episode, host Brent Harbour talks to Gary Hough from KiwiHarvest. KiwiHarvest work hard in the community with rescue food deliveries and so much more. They assist charities and organisations, there by allowing them to focus on core issues to help people in need in the region.

We talk about their upcoming campaign, what initiatives KiwiHarvest are working on, and more.

 

And here's the editorial Gary wrote for this week's Lakes Weekly Bulletin: 

Locals helping locals

by Gary Hough, Kiwi Harvest

When I joined KiwiHarvest, less than a year ago, I thought it would be the scale of the food waste that would shock me, but it was actually the need for food support and the unsung army of people and charities helping people in their hour of need that really left me stunned. Every week over 760 people across Queenstown, Wānaka and Cromwell get food support.

Simply put, even in the best of times many people, across a huge range of occupations vital to the community, are financially stretched. They have little in reserve for when things go wrong, and don’t have the family and close-friend network to provide support. This Winter is looking like a perfect storm of financial strains. On top of food price rises and heating bills kicking in, you have average rents in the area jumping $140 a week. It is even more grim for a big number of families coming off their fixed mortgage rates with some jumping up $415 a week! Many people will do what they can to keep a roof over their head and the heating on, so food, and especially nutritious food, is being sacrificed.

Hearing stories, as I have, of mums breaking down because they can’t give their kids the nutrition they need, or having a horrible scenario of pulling their children out of school and away from their friends to move out of town, is something no one in our community wants. We are trying to do our bit and have created a dedicated Winter Food Campaign.

I would say to anyone struggling to put food on the table for themselves or their family, even if it’s just for a couple of weeks, you are not alone, these are extraordinary times and there is good help out there for you. The charities are run by amazing people who keep things discreet and are just there to help people in their time of need, so please check the listings below and reach out.

Last year our small team, in partnership with our great food donors including supermarkets, producers and cafés, rescued over 120,000 kilograms of excess food, equating to over 340,000 meals, that we redistributed to our partner charities. With this campaign we are asking for locals’ support, in whatever way you can as we ramp up supplies and capabilities for winter. Details on how to make a financial donation, food donations and volunteer can all be found on our Winter Campaign page www.kiwiharvest.org.nz/central-lakes-winter-campaign.

Need help?

Queenstown:

Te Whare Hauora ki Tahuna: 03 442 3682

The Salvation Army: 03 442 9661

Baskets of Blessings:  info@basketsofblessing.co.nz or www.basketsofblessings.co.nz

Happiness House: 03 442 6531

Wānaka:

Community Networks Foodbank: 03 443 7799

Food For Love: 027 222 9230