The revival of a beloved Motueka food share service is again providing a lifeline for those struggling amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
Alive Community Care, run through Alive Church on High St, rolled out its first fortnightly food boxes last Friday. Eighteen boxes were reserved and collected, with that number expected to rise quickly as news of the service spreads.
Church board member Emma Fifita says that the community has responded with gratitude and relief.
“Especially with winter coming,” she says. “Times are really tough.”
Among the contents of last week’s boxes were fish fillets, beef mince, cheese, crackers, wet wipes and canned goods.
The church spent two years facilitating the Motueka branch of the regional Kai with Love food share charity, before the organisation folded at Christmas due to a funding decrease.
The organiser approached the church board, offering them the large amount of stock they had on hand to utilise within the Motueka community.
Emma says that the church had been loving the connection with the community, and so they jumped at the chance to take it on.
“As a church, we want to be active in the community. We don’t just want to be a building,” she says.
They intentionally chose a name that does not mention food for the new service, and Emma explains that this is because they want to offer something broader than the food share. For example, a pyjama and blanket day, where people can come and collect items to keep them warm through winter, has already been pencilled in for June.
Under the Kai With Love umbrella, the Motueka branch was handing out about 125 boxes a week – and more than 160 in the lead-up to Christmas. While the new service is getting off the ground, it is capped at 50 boxes once a fortnight, although Emma says they are hoping to increase this as their capacity grows.
“We’ve got a really good head start, but we’re looking at ways that we can sustain it,” she explains.
She says that they would welcome any support – either one-off or ongoing – from orchards, farms and supermarkets, as well as households that have an abundance in their home garden.
They join several other food support services in Motueka, including the weekly food service that operates from the Christian Fellowship Church on Woodlands Avenue, the Salvation Army food bank, and the Community House share shelf.
Emma says it was great to be working alongside these services to help alleviate the community’s growing need.
“Many hands make light work,” she summarises.
Motueka’s Vicki Gibbons was one of the first Alive Community Care foodshare recipients last Friday, having formerly been linked in with Kai with Love.
“This is huge for us,” she said, holding up her foodshare box. “It’s an amazing help. Everything has gone up so much.”
Some Motueka/Golden Bay food assistance options:
Alive Community Care distributes fortnightly food boxes on Fridays, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, at Alive Church, at 374 High Street. Message 021 025 52899 on the Thursday (before 3pm) prior to the Friday pickup. The next service is Friday 17 May.
Community House Share Shelf is available inside Monday-Friday 8.30am-4pm, outside in the weekends anytime.
Salvation Army operates their food bank on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1pm-2.30pm.
The Foodshare Motueka runs their food service on Wednesdays from the Christian Fellowship Church, 25 Woodlands Ave. Text 028 436 6407 before 2pm to request food.
St Vincent de Paul operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Community House, between 1.30pm and 2.30pm, to be booked at Community House on the day via 03 528 0404.
Weka Peckers Recycling offers free bread during opening hours.
Te Awhina Marae Te Pataka – contact 03 528 6061.
Mohua Social Services operate from the Community Centre at 88 Commercial Street, Takaka. They operate the Golden Bay foodbank, with walk-in assistance available Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm.
