The Te Awamutu Combined Churches and Community Foodbank is continuing to help people in need during the Covid-19 crisis.
“We have packers and deliverers ready to make deliveries if required,” said coordinator Ian McLauchlan. “Our delivery processes have been modified to ensure their safety.”
He said the organisation will keep operating through Covid-19 emergency because it was classed as an essential service.
However, with its call centre at Kainga Aroha Community House now closed and restrictions on public movement in place, it could no longer accept donated goods.
Foodbank coordinator Ian McLauchlan
“Our plan is to buy food if required over the next four weeks because of the difficulty accepting donated items,” he said.
“I have had the offer of a cash donation from a private individual to help meet the cost of purchasing food and we have also received an offer of support from Te Awamutu Rotary.”
He would be happy to receive offers of financial assistance and could be contacted on 027 389 5470 or at suemclauchlan@xtra.co.nz.
McLauchlan has contacted Te Awamutu supermarket managers to set up a plan for buying food and said James Clark from FreshChoice had been “extremely helpful”.
“He has enabled us to establish a purchasing system that allows us to buy what we need in the quantities that we need, subject to product availability.”
While he expected Work and Income New Zealand to be the first port of call for those in need, he said the foodbank was available as an emergency service.
Requests for food parcels should be directed through WINZ or church ministers, including Pastor Ariki Ashford, 021 295 6928, Rev Shelley Walker, 07 871 4453, or 027 694 8779, Julie Guest, 027 420 5375, Allan MacManus, 027 936 5986, Rev Ron Bennett, 022 698 1303 and Pastor Shane Wildermoth, 021 217 2105).
