Auckland City Mission's $1.3m Christmas shortfall

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

A total of 4000 people are expected to queue up outside the Auckland City Mission for food parcels in the lead-up to Christmas.

The Auckland City Mission says it needs to raise $1.3 million this Christmas in order to provide food parcels, medical care and other services to thousands of needy Aucklanders.

City missioner Chris Farrelly said in the weeks leading up to Christmas, about 4000 people are expected to line up outside the Mission's drop-in centre on Hobson Street.

Last year the Mission distributed almost 13,000 emergency food parcels to individuals and families in need.

Many of them would be women raising children on their own.

At the start of the Mission's annual Christmas appeal on Wednesday, Farrelly said 80 per cent of the organisation's operating costs were funded by donations.

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'Christmas is a difficult time of year for vulnerable Aucklanders, especially low-income families,' he said.

'Unfortunately, we see a high number of women with children coming to us for emergency food parcels, particularly at this time of the year.

'As we approach Christmas, we again reach out to ask our fellow Aucklanders to join us and assist us to bring some joy and hope into the lives of families who desperately need help.'

The Mission was expecting to give 150 families each day over the next three weeks a modest food parcel, one Christmas gift for each child, and access to a Work and Income special needs grant to help them get through Christmas.

Last year the Mission distributed almost 13,000 emergency food parcels to individuals and families in need.

'The gift is likely to be the only Christmas present that these children will receive this year,' said Farrelly.

He asked every Aucklander to 'be someone's angel' and donate funds to the Christmas appeal.

The Mission was also expecting to host 2000 people at its annual Christmas lunch. And next year, it planned to embark on a project aimed at ending homelessness in New Zealand.

To donate, visit www.aucklandcitymission.org.nz.