Shifted food bank back up and running

HELP ON OFFER: Tauranga Community Foodbank chairman Alan Plunkett and his team of volunteers are back in business at bigger, newer premises. PHOTO/ JOHN BORREN

Tauranga Community Foodbank is up and running at its new premises after being forced to vacate their Dive Crescent building, which was affected by toxic, black mould and asbestos.

The newly-leased Tauranga-owned premises, which are on Brook St, behind Fraser Cove, opened to the public on October 12.

Foodbank Chairman Alan Plunkett said things were ticking along well, "apart from a few electrical problems", such as insufficient power points for their 18 freezers and large chillers.

Mr Plunkett said extra shelving, costing up to $2000, was also needed and he would love to hear from anyone who could help out.

He said people were still finding the foodbank and the number of food parcels handed out was tracking at about the same as last year, he said.

Since the foodbank move to new premises, 176 food parcels had been handed out.

Manager Nicki Goodwin said Tauranga Budgeting Service, Salvation Army and the Welcome Bay Community Centre helped distribute parcels while the foodbank had been closed.

"Thanks also to Food Rescue, which is part of the Good Neighbourhood Trust, which took all our perishables and redistributed this food to those in need in the community so it did not go to waste. It's been a huge help," she said.

Mr Plunkett said the new premises was double the size of the former building.

The team were rapt by all the community support, and their landlord Tauranga City Council had agreed to buy a new chiller, which was likely to arrive in three to four weeks, he said.

About 20 per cent of the 40-50 volunteers accepted council's offer on Monday to undergo health checks following the mould discovery, and were given the all clear, but were advised to see their GP if still concerned. Others were still considering council's offer, he said.

Mr Plunkett said while the replacement Tauranga-owned building suited their needs for now, the long-term plan was to find a new building.

"We don't envisage being here permanently but for now we have signed an 18-month lease with our landlord," he said.

Tauranga City Council's group communication advisor Rachel Schicker said following positive soil sample test result for asbestos around the perimeter of the building, air tests had been done inside.

"Those tests came back as negative.

"The area remains fenced off and no decision has been made yet about what to do next now the building," she said.