Kenneth Walker in the Nelson Salvation Army’s food bank which needs a boost. Photo: Sara Hollyman.

Winter months brings need for food parcels

0
1613

A box of cereal could be all it takes to make a difference to those in need, says Nelson’s Salvation Army.

During the winter month the Sallies are reaching out to the local community to help those people get through the tough colder months.

Over the past year, Salvation Army Nelson has given out more than 1300 food parcels, ranging in sizes from single packs to large family parcels.

Salvation Army Nelson corps officer Kenneth Walker says the general public is instrumental in continuing to help those in need.

“Nobody wants to come and ask for help, often people come in with their heads down and say ‘sorry to have to do this, but we really need some food’, and that’s something we really want to encourage because it’s a great position of strength to ask for help.”

The Foodbank Project, a joint initiative between The Salvation Army, Nelson-based designers Lucid and Countdown supermarkets, is providing an easy way for donations to be made online.

Recently having hit $1 million of donations, the project allows the Salvation Army’s network of 69 foodbanks, including Nelson, to receive weekly drop-offs of fresh produce and other donations thanks to the Countdown food truck.

It allows for fresh food to be donated – something that is not possible with traditional donation bins in store.

Salvation Army’s head of community ministries Jono Bell says there’s consistently more demand than donations.

“Unfortunately, the sad reality is that through the colder months we see a consistently high demand for food assistance and our foodbanks across the country will still get stretched very thin.”

In 2018 Salvation Army handed out 59,000 food parcels across the country and Jono urges Nelsonians to get out and support the Foodbank Project during June.

To donate food items head to www.foodbank.org.nz