The Gisborne Community Care Foodbank is the biggest of its kind in the region, moving 11 tonnes of food and essential items each year for those in need.
The not-for-profit charity was set up in 2019 and is run by trained volunteers each Wednesday and Friday behind the Uniting Church in Gisborne.
Aldi, Josh’s Rainbow Eggs and Fortune Bakehouse are a few of the businesses regularly contributing so those in need can have a free meal. Donation bins set up in carparks of supermarkets also provided much-needed support as well as food drives organised with local schools.
Wally Van Dort, a volunteer at the food bank, said the program was reliant on donations from the community and businesses who provided food nearing its expiration date.
“People come in and say, ‘I don’t know how I’d do it without the foodbank’,” he said.
“We get probably 45 to 50 people come in a week. Young, old, single people, families. The cost-of-living crisis has had a big impact.”
Robin Jeffs, another volunteer, said people coming by were grateful to have fresh fruit and meats provided and only ever took what they needed.
“When you see people come in, you see people need this on an ongoing basis. Some people have lost their job or have health issues,” she said.
Pet food, cleaning products and toiletry supplies are also available for free to all who visit.
The Gisborne Community Care Foodbank is currently looking for anyone interested in joining their team as a volunteer and available for 16 hours per week. Those interested can email gisborneccf@gmail.com or call Wally on 0401 031 767.
“We’re all volunteers but I do get paid. I get paid in volunteer dollars,” Wally joked.
“I get to give back to my community.”
