Every week of the school term, a Waimea Intermediate teacher and her group of angels create food parcels to give to people in the community who could benefit from a dose of generosity.
It all began when food technology teacher Jo Townsend took a few students along as volunteers to deliver meals to the homeless and those in need. Her group of WIS Angels grew from that, creating their ‘Manaaki Kai’ parcels each week to give to a few people who needed a boost.
“We know there’s homeless, but what can we actually do?” Jo says. “A really good way of showing manaaki (generosity and hospitality) is through food.”
Jackie Galland from Giving Aroha joined the weekly cooking session, and she takes a couple of the food parcels to give to homeless people. The other few bags go to people chosen by the class who might be going through a hard time and that can be anything from a lost pet to being in hospital.
Jo says the students know the stories behind the people who receive a parcel and have learnt about the people in their community.
“I think it’s interesting for the kids to look outside of their own lives and see there are people in the community who have different lives to them. One of the kids saw someone in hospital and said they could do with a bag.”
Jo says the parcels always have a “good old fruit crumble” and a meal such as fried rice or mac and cheese, muffins, a jar of treats called Aroha in a Jar and a WIS Angels’ biscuit in the shape of an angel, iced and packaged with a bow.
“I remember once going to Foodbank and they said it was all very well giving a tin of baked beans, but they also like a packet of chocolate biscuits.
“Treats are good, too. I think it is important that it looks nice as well, because it is a gift.”
The parcels head out the door with the WIS Angels’ label, a list of ingredients and heating instructions if they are going to someone who will be able to heat a meal.
Putting it all together takes some supervision which led to Richmond Lions volunteer Raeowna Rush and parent Jessica Stratford becoming regulars at the weekly session.
