Coronavirus: Where to get help, food parcels during Covid-19 alert level 3
Friday, 24 April 2020
A lot of Kiwis have been doing it tough during coronavirus lockdown,
Jobs have been lost, hours have been cut, and the normal options for accessing food, be that through pātaka kai or school meals, just aren't there.
Under alert level 3, it's likely a lot of those issues will remain.
If you need to access emergency food, here are some places you can go for help. Many food banks have changed how they operate and are no longer open to the public, so in most cases you're advised to phone ahead.
**READ MORE:
* Coronavirus: Demand for food parcels in Marlborough jumps during lockdown
* South Canterbury foodbanks feeling strain of lockdown demand
* Increased demand for food parcels under lockdown**
AUCKLAND
Auckland City Mission is distributing food parcels during lockdown, but asks people with an urgent need to contact Auckland Council in the first instance on 0800 22 22 96.
If you would still like to register your need with the Mission, please call 09 303 9200 or email info@aucklandcitymission.org.nz and provide your first and last name, your address, your phone number and your email address.
The Mission is currently experiencing unprecedented demand, distributing 1200 a week instead of its usual 450, so it may take a couple of days for a member of the team to get back to you.
The Mission is also working with local marae to get food to people who need it. Contact Papakura Marae on 09 297 2036 or Ngā Whare Waatea Marae in Favona on 09 277 7866.
St Vincent de Paul is delivering food parcels in central Auckland - call 09 815 6122 or email Auckland@stvinnies.co.nz.
VisionWest's Pātaka Kai in Glen Eden is operating as a delivery-only service during lockdown. If you have a need for an emergency food parcel, please phone 09 818 0781.
Generation Ignite Food Bank is operating as a contactless, drive-through service at 1pm on Fridays from The Arena at 44a Portage road, New Lynn. Contact foodbank@generation-i.co.nz for more information.
Friends in Need has been set up to help families during the Covid-19 pandemic, delivering emergency food parcels and essential toiletries to households experiencing hardship. It can also provide winter clothing, bedding and shoes. Contact 0800 437 687 or register for support on the website.
Care Waitākare Trust provides food parcels on Thursdays for Te Atatu residents who are ineligible for a Work and Income food grant. Email admin@carewaitakere.org.nz, phone 09 834 6480 or text 021 113 3355.
If you live in Orakei, Kohimarama or Mission Bay, Orakei Food Bank may be able to help - phone 09 521 5712 and leave a voicemail with your details, the number of people in the household and children's ages.
Māngere Budgeting and Family Support Services is providing support during lockdown - call 0508 22 22 83.
The Supreme Sikh Society of NZ is giving away free food bags - it is a drive-through service, no appointment necessary. Check their Facebook page for details of dates and locations.
Call Presbyterian Support Northern on 09 309 2054 to arrange to pick up a parcel between 11am-12pm Monday to Friday; strictly no walk-ins.
St Mark's Church in Pakuranga are still open but only focusing on those in Pakuranga. Email them on stmarks@xtra.co.nz.
Hills Church on Hillsborough Road can be emailed at office@hillschurch.nz. Please provide details on your needs and they will do their best to provide a food parcel.
WELLINGTON
Wellington City Mission is the regional co-ordinator for food parcel distribution in the capital. Contact the Misson on 0800 245 0900 or enquiries@wgtncitymission.org.nz.
The Compassion Centre Soup Kitchen is continuing to operate through lockdown, serving one meal a day between 1.30-2.30pm with social distancing and strict hygiene protocol in place. The Soup Kitchen is at 132 Tory St.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul in Wellington and the surrounding areas can be contacted on the numbers below.
Newtown/Wellington area: Call 04 389 7122 or email info@vinnieswgtn.org.nz
Hutt Valley: 027 600 8732
Kapi-Mana – Tawa/Porirua/Titahi Bay/Plimmerton: 04 237 5968
Paraparaumu/Waikanae: 022 344 7872
Ōtaki: 021 026 74188
Kaibosh Food Rescue is operating through lockdown and has compiled a list of its food recipients that are still open – you can find it on their website.
A number of marae are providing food parcels to whānau. Contact Koraunui Marae in Lower Hutt on 04 939 6662 or kmtrust@koraunuimarae.co.nz; Orongomai Marae in Upper Hutt on 04 528 9639 or uppervalleymarae@xtra.co.nz; Kokiri Marae on 04 939 4630 or teresa@kokiri-hauora.org.nz.
Due to Covid-19, The Salvation Army has set up a hub in Newtown. Get in touch on 04 528 6745 or Wellington.foodbank@salvationarmy.org.nz. Please provide your name, address, number of family members and children's ages.
Pomare Community House in Lower Hutt is providing kai and can be contacted on 04 570 6020.
Residents of Stokes Valley can contact the Stokes Valley Food Bank on 0275570248.
People in Wainuiomata can get in touch with Wainui Food Bank on 04 972 8799.
Tuatahi Centre in Wainuiomata can also help with food parcels - if you're in need, call them on 04 650 3388.
Know of anywhere else people can go to access food? Email josephine.franks@stuff.co.nz
NORTHLAND
Food Rescue Northland is distributing food in Whangārei and the mid-north. Call 022 475 3473 or email foodrescuenorthland@gmail.com.
Northlanders can contact 155 Community House in Whangārei for food parcels on 0800 120 926.
Those in Kaitaia and the surrounding areas can contact the Far North Community Foodbank for help – 09 408 0795.
WAIKATO
Here to Help U is a collection of Hamilton-based community service providers who banded together as the country went into lockdown.
You can use the online form to request frozen meals and food parcels. Services including mental health support and safe social connection are also on offer.
The Hamilton Combined Christian Foodbank is open during lockdown. If you need a food parcel, contact one of its partner agencies: Anglican Action on 07 856 5820 or info@anglican action.org.nz; Catholic Family Support on 07 856 3760 or admin@cfss.org.nz; Desert Spring Community Centre on 027 855 2728 or 07 855 2728, or via email dsmt.tpw@gmail.com.
Tauranga Community Foodbank can be contacted on 07 578 9888 or via the contact form on their website.
CHRISTCHURCH
The Christchurch City Mission can be contacted on 03 365 0635 or foodbank@citymission.org.nz.
Essential workers from the Hope Community Trust are making contactless food deliveries to people who are struggling financially. Contact them on 03 928 3066 and leave a message and someone will be in touch or email support@hopecommunity.co.nz.
The Delta Food Store can help people in the Richmond area, delivering food parcels to your door. Call them on 0800 2 DELTA (0800 233 582).
TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
Nelson food charity Kai With Love is providing food for struggling families, saving food that would otherwise go to waste in the process.
Kai With Love members can text ahead to request food parcels, which they collect weekly from Nelson, Richmond and Wakefield in a new drive-through system. Join the Facebook group for instructions on how to access food.
Nelson Community Foodbank is supporting families through lockdown. Requests for food parcels can be made through one of its supporting agencies: The Salvation Army; Saint Vincent de Paul Nelson; Saint Vincent de Paul Stoke; Te Piki Oranga; Whakatu Marae; Family Start; BUWT (Beneficiaries and Unwaged Workers Trust).
In order to qualify for a food parcel you must have first asked Work and Income for a food grant. If they say no, present your declined letter to one of the above agencies, ideally one you are already involved with.
Marlborough Foodbank has seen demand for food parcels jump during lockdown. It operates through more than 30 social welfare agencies, including the Salvation Army, Women's Refuge and Maata Waka. The Salvation Army in Blenheim can be contacted on 03 578 0862 or blenheim_corps@nzf.salvationarmy.org.
OTAGO
St Vincent de Paul Dunedin is still operating on a phone-in service with drop-off to people's gates. Leave your name and number at 03 477 0555 and someone will be in touch.
In Queenstown, you can call the Salvation Army on 03 442 9661 or Happiness House Community Support Centre on 03 442 6531.
Community Networks Wanaka runs a food bank. They can be contacted on 03 443 7799.
Queenstown District Lakes Council has set up a web form for anyone who may need to access help through the Civil Defence Emergency Management. The Covid-19 welfare registration form can be found here. Once completed, the welfare response team will be in touch within 72 hours.
SOUTHLAND
People requesting parcels must go through Emergency Management Southland – contact them between 7am-7pm on 0800 890 127 or email covid19@cdsouthland.nz. Referrals will then be sent on to the food banks.
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army is responding to increased demand for emergency food, delivering 5895 food parcels last week – a 346 per cent rise on the week before lockdown.
If you're in need of help, you can find contact details for your local branch on its website.
CIVIL DEFENCE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
If you are struggling to access basic food and you do not have any other options available, you can contact your local Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.
The groups operate seven days a week from 7am to 7pm. The phone number for your local CDEM group is below.
Northland – 0800 790 791
Auckland – 0800 222 296
Waikato – 0800 800 405
Bay of Plenty – 0800 884 222
Hawke's Bay – 0800 422 923
Tairāwhiti – 0800 653 800
Taranaki – 0800 900 077
Manawatū-Whanganui – 0800 725 678
Wellington – 0800 141 967
Marlborough – 03 520 7400 or welfare@marlboroughcdem.co.nz
Nelson – 0800 50 50 75
Canterbury – 0800 24 24 11
West Coast – 03 900 9329
Otago – 0800 322 4000
Southland – 0800 890 127 or covid19@cdsouthland.nz
Chatham Islands – 03 305 0033 ex 715