Foodbank delivers life and work skills as volunteer discovers independence

O'Connor Buckley, 19, spent his time at the Tauranga Community Foodbank yesterday bagging up pasta for food parcels. Photo / Andrew Warner

Volunteering at Tauranga Community Foodbank is a path to independence for O'Connor Buckley.

O'Connor, 19, spends time every Thursday helping break bulk food into smaller packages for food parcels and restocking shelves - teaching him life and work skills.

He was in an accident when he was 12 and was left with lasting injuries that limited his movement, so the other volunteers give him tasks he can accomplish without much trouble.

He has ambitions of getting a job and moving into a flat, giving him independence.

"I enjoy all of it, the work and the people," he said.

The people love him too. He always has a smile on his face and is ready with a funny remark - his love for comedy shining through.

"I love comedy, especially Adam Sandler and Tom Hanks.

"I have Forrest Gump at home which I've seen a lot, but my favourite movie is Click."

He was amazed by the flow of people coming through the doors of the foodbank to donate food items and cash.

An assistant from Optionz Brain Rehabilitation and Recovery Trust brings O'Connor in every week for his work experience, which helps him learn skills like turning up for a job on time, workplace ethics, and working with people.

He has been working at the foodbank for most of this year.

Tauranga Community Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin said the foodbank had daily volunteers from support centres for people with special needs.