Trays upon trays of food were delivered with lashing of love at the Smoking Barrel’s community flood relief dinner last week.
The Motueka restaurant threw open its doors on Tuesday, 15 July, offering free food anyone who was affected in any way by the flooding.
More than that, however – it gave shell-shocked and exhausted flood victims people a nurturing place to decompress, alongside others who understand their situation.
Customers spoke of how they felt moved to tears by the outpouring of generosity from not only business owners Rachel and Josiah Smits, but also the wider community who dropped off contributions for the dinner and volunteered their time to help cook and serve.
“It’s probably the most humbling experience I’ve had in my whole life,” said one customer, who Motueka Valley farm has been hit twice by the flooding.
The leftovers were bundled up and delivered to those who did not have the capacity to leave their properties, so that they too could feel the warmth of a community that is determined to pull together to support its own.
