Opinion: There but for the grace of God go I

Tauranga Community Foodbank vice chairwoman Philippa de Vere. Photo/Andrew Warner.

Just three months after the Bay of Plenty Times Christmas Appeal, the Tauranga Community Foodbank is sending out an SOS.

The food donated during our six-week appeal usually lasts the foodbank at least five months but this year the collections barely made it through March. Read more here.

Hearing this was a huge shock to me, considering our appeal last year was a record-breaker - the grand total was $129,130, which included $70,220 in cash and 29,455 items of food.

And now that's gone.

Foodbank manager Nicki Goodwin believes a major reason for this is the rising cost of housing.

Even holding down a steady job isn't always enough to ensure food on the table. Many of the people that seek help from the foodbank are employed.

On March 22, the Bay of Plenty Times reported the latest Trade Me stats showing the average cost of a rental in Tauranga had increased to $450 a week, an average annual rent of $23,400.

A person on the current minimum wage earns $27,149 a year after tax.

Someone earning $40,000 will take home $33,980 after tax.

Imagine trying to support a family on what's left.

Then you get an unexpected bill - your children get sick, your car breaks down, or a family member dies and you need to arrange a funeral.

On a low wage, it doesn't take much to get into a financial crisis, and this is where the foodbank can help.

And now the foodbank needs our help.

The proverb "there but for the grace of God go I" is a fitting one today and I ask anyone that's able to bring a little food or cash to the office on Cameron Rd or the foodbank building on Brook St near Fraser Cove, and help those less fortunate.