Editorial: Heartfelt hand up when life gets hard

Tauranga Community Foodbank has received a huge response this Christmas. Pictured is long-time volunteer Tina Devecourt.

Every year the Bay of Plenty Times runs a Christmas appeal for the Tauranga Community Foodbank and every year we are blown away by the support from the community.

This year has been no different so far.

The thing I really love about the Tauranga Community Foodbank is that it is not just a hand out, it is a hand up.

It works with other agencies to help those struggling get back on their own two feet.

Those who have required multiple food parcels are required to work with the Tauranga Budget Advisory Service to figure out how they can manage their money better and if there are any other benefits they might be eligible for.

As reported in Saturday's Bay of Plenty Times Weekend the most frequent foodbank clients are asked to join the Financial Capability Training course run by the budget advisory service.

The course covers topics including meal planning, shopping tips, budgeting, reducing costs, the ins-and-outs of hire-purchase and credit cards and saving.

The first classes were held in October and November and already the foodbank had seen a decrease in requests for food parcels from those who took it.

It's a great system.

Sometimes people going through a rough patch just need a one-off food parcel to get them through - the foodbank can help with that.

But for those who are continually struggling to make ends meet, it is able to put them in touch with agencies that can help make their future less grim.

Saving, budgeting and using money well is not something that comes naturally.

We've all been taught it by someone, at some stage.

Some learn it from their parents as kids. Others don't learn it until later in life when things get tough.

It's great we have a service and volunteers who are willing to help teach those vital life skills - and just provide support for those who are struggling.

Making ends meet when you don't have much is tough no matter how good you are at managing money, especially at Christmas time.

So thank you to everyone who has donated to the Christmas appeal so far.

Every little bit counts and makes a world of difference to those who receive the parcels.