Caleb Armit, 16, and sister Zoe, 18, have volunteered twice a week during the foodbank’s annual Christmas appeal. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Caleb Armit, 16, and sister Zoe, 18, have volunteered twice a week during the foodbank’s annual Christmas appeal. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Rewarding, beneficial, exciting, busy, and enjoyable is how Zoe and Caleb Armit would describe a day of volunteering at Tauranga Community Foodbank.
The siblings returned to volunteer for another year, dedicating their time twice a week during the foodbank’s annual Christmas appeal.
The Bay of Plenty Times’ six-week Christmas Appealfor the Tauranga Community Foodbank launched on November 15.
Supported by The Hits Bay of Plenty 95.0FM and SunLive, it aims to replenish the foodbank’s shelves, offering Christmas treats for people who may otherwise have none and boost the foodbank into the new year.
She said jobs for volunteers varied day-to-day, but her tasks and her brother’s involved greeting donors and counting and sorting donations.
“Light things go into banana boxes, heavy things go into smaller Baxter boxes. Then once they are full, we sort them and put them in groups together on pallets.”
Zoe Armit, 18, was motivated to start volunteering at the foodbank because it helped others and gave her something to do. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Armit told the Bay of Plenty Times “a lot” of the other volunteers were retired, and her young age meant she was able to help them out.
“With me, who is younger, with a bit more muscle, it’s easier to lift things, or if they need bigger things moved, I’ve got easy access.”
She said volunteering at the foodbank made her feel grateful for what she had.
“Seeing the sheer scale of how many people you notice in cars coming past, like there are people who you don’t realise need it until you’re in that space.”
The Tauranga Community Foodbank has supported 23,618 people in the past year and has distributed 9520 kai packages.
Tauranga Community Foodbank warehouse manager Jordy Gastmeier manages all the volunteers and said the foodbank could not operate without them.
She loved it when young people, like Zoe and Caleb, reached out to get involved.
“It’s just so incredible that’s what they’re thinking at that age, that they want to help and want to be a part of the solution.”
She said the Armit siblings were a joy to be around.
“It’s so helpful having their muscle, they’re so quick, they’re just so passionate and enthusiastic, and really want to do whatever needs doing, with a smile.”
She was inspired by some of the young people coming through to volunteer.
“We get so much out of having them here, and it just really warms my heart to see them come back.”
The last official donation day for the Christmas Appeal is December 24.
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.
