While tea, pasta and sauces may seem like basic ingredients for those struggling at Christmas a top up in the cupboard can mean a lot, says the general manager of a Whangarei trust.
About 70 volunteers from community organisations, church groups and marae spent their Saturday morning in Otangarei's City Rugby Football Clubrooms packing 500 boxes with dried foods, such as pasta; tea bags; and sauces, to go to Whangarei families in need this Christmas.
Te Hau Awhiowhio o Otangarei Trust and the Maori Evangelical Fellowship Church partnered with the Christmas Box Project to ensure struggling families have food during the festive season.
"It's basic food but it can mean a lot. If you're on a tight budget and family drops in unexpected, you're not going to say 'sorry, you can't have a cup of tea'. This gives them that little bit more, it's a top up in the cupboard," said Janine Kaipo,
Te Hau Awhiowhio o Otangarei Trust general manager.
It is the second year the trust has partnered with the Christmas Box project. Ms Kaipo said the trust raised about $5000 throughout the year in order to receive the boxes and cover travel and transport.
She said 165 of the 500 boxes had already been delivered to Whangarei families while 335 boxes would be distributed closer to Christmas.
"Some families are really humble. Some are embarrassed saying 'we didn't ask' but it's not a charity, it's a blessing," Ms Kaipo said.
More than 700 people across the country helped pack Christmas boxes on Saturday for the Christmas Box project, which is in its 16th year.
In addition to the 500 boxes packed in Whangarei, the Christmas Box project packed 10,000 boxes in Auckland, 1000 in Hamilton, 1500 in Christchurch and 2500 in Melbourne as well as 1000 in Rarotonga.
The food box is to supplement meals for a family of four to six during the Christmas season. This year a toy was added to more half the 10,000 Christmas boxes packed in Auckland and 1500 boxes in Canterbury, while toys are being sent down to families affected by the Kaikoura earthquakes.
Ms Kaipo said next year they'd like to have 1000 boxes packed and delivered in Whangarei which would mean raising $10,000 throughout the year.
- If you can help next year's appeal email terri.cassidy@tehauawhiowhio.org.nz.