Nelson Community Food Bank braces for new cohort of people in hardship

Friday, 4 December 2020

Nelson Community Food Bank co-ordinator Ian Johnston looks after a team of about 12 volunteers who make up and deliver food parcels to people in need.

The Nelson Community Food Bank is preparing to help a new group of people who have burnt through their savings and fallen into hardship following the end of wage subsidies and the winter energy payment.

“People who would normally be working, people who have never been on a benefit,” said treasurer and trustee Marina Gosnell.

Some groups of people who were used to living on a limited income coped well on a tight budget, such as single parents. “They’re amazing.”

However, this new cohort, who may have lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, often had commitments that matched their previous wages and found it difficult to make ends meet on reduced incomes. They also may not realise their level of entitlement to financial support.

More food parcels are being made up this year by co-ordinator Ian Johnston and his team compared with the same time in 2019.

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Some people donate surplus produce to the food bank such as fruit and vegetables. (File photograph)

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“There’s a lot of people who don’t know how the system works,” Gosnell said.

For some, the drop in income had been softened by the Government wage subsidies and the winter energy payment but those had now ended.

“Some people have been using their savings, they’ll do anything they can until the car breaks down or a crisis hits,” Gosnell said.

Megan Familton, of the Nelson Community Food Bank Trust, with boxes of food during the Covid-19 lockdown. Video first published in April 2020.

Some may need food parcels at times to help support their households, he said.

“We’re bracing in case that happens.”

Now based in the former Nelson Suburban Club at Tāhunanui, the team of mainly volunteers were already making up about 50 per cent more food parcels than this time last year. While the total was down from a spike of about 100 a week during lockdown, the need was still high.

Recipients accessed the food parcels via support agencies including The Salvation Army, Saint Vincent de Paul Nelson, Saint Vincent de Paul Stoke, Te Piki Oranga, Whakatū Marae and BUWT (Beneficiaries and Unwaged Workers Trust).

Paid co-ordinator Ian Johnston and about 12 volunteers made up the parcels and delivered them to the recipients. Those volunteers were reimbursed for their mileage.

Gosnell said more volunteers would be welcome with a commitment of a few hours once a fortnight. As well as making up and delivering the parcels, volunteers also had other roles such as compiling statistics or other administration tasks.

Some people donated money to the food bank every week or month while others left food items in specially marked bins at supermarkets or brought in surplus produce such as fruit and vegetables for the parcels.

“The public support is amazing,” Gosnell said.

People could call 0272 650 655 to arrange food donations. Anyone wishing to contribute money to the food bank could do so via the trust account listed on the nelsoncommunityfoodbank.org.nz website.

Gosnell, who’s also been long involved with Nelson Budget Service, encouraged people to seek budgeting help “sooner rather than later” before they got into hardship.