"We are short of food, looking around our pantry we need fruit and vegetables, tinned goods like baked beans and spaghetti, cereals, spread, toilet rolls and long life milk."
Millie said they used to get requests for 30 food boxes a month, this rose to around 40 about two years ago and now this has risen to around 50 food boxes every month, sometimes more than 60.
"We had 57 requests for food boxes in December and 65 in October last year."
The extra demand is also putting more pressure on volunteers, who hand deliver the food parcels to those in need.
"We'd love to get some more volunteers if we can," said Millie.
People can make donations through Countdown Supermarket Food Rescue Box, cash donations or perishable goods such as meat can be dropped off at the Citizens Advice Bureau, Monday to Friday 10am-1pm.
If you can spare some time to volunteer with the foodbank get in touch with Kaipara Budgeting and leave a message for Millie.
Millie's surname has been withheld to prevent unsolicited calls.
Those wishing to request a food parcel must do so through approved agencies: Work and Income, Te Ha Oranga, Community Health Services or Kaipara Budgeting Services.
Town pool may open all year round
The Kauri Coast Community Pool may open all year round under new ownership.
Kauri Coast Community Pool Trust members, council staff, staff from Community Leisure Management and Sport Northland pose together to celebrate the handing over of ownership of the town's pool.
The $6 million pool was recently sold to Sport Northland for $1 in a deal said to, "ensure its future".
The facility opened in 2010 thanks mostly to the efforts of the Kauri Coast Community Pool Trust which spearheaded the project.
Kauri Coast Community Pool Trust (KCCPT) chairman Vern Stevens said selling the pool to Sport Northland and having it as the Trust governing the complex ensures the facility will continue to improve and flourish in the long term.
Sport Northland chief executive Brent Eastwood said the ownership and governance model they've agreed to fits well with his organisation's goal of providing quality spaces and places in the right locations that encourage more Northlanders to play, active recreation and sport.
"Sport Northland's core purpose is 'enriching lives through play, active recreation and sport' and, by agreeing to the ownership of the facility, we believe we can enrich the lives of more locals in the wider Northern Wairoa area."
Eastwood also said part of Sport Northland's plans in the medium to long term will be to investigate a closing-in of at least part of the pool facilities to enable year-round access.
"I particularly want to acknowledge Vern Stevens, Gordon Lambeth, Janet Froggat and Amanda Matich from the KCCPT who have voluntarily served the trust so well for the past nine years since the complex first opened," Eastwood said.
Kaipara District Council (KDC) chief executive Louise Miller said having Sport Northland involved, with formal agreements specifying terms and conditions, should give comfort to both council and the community.
"The decision for council to work alongside a specialised organisation like Sport Northland is a great opportunity to future proof the pool and to ensure many people will enjoy it for years to come.
"This will enable Sport Northland to govern the facilities in agreement with the Kaipara District Council, which will pay an operational grant and a maintenance grant annually," said MIller.
"The day-to-day running of the complex will continue to be undertaken by Community Leisure Management."
A council spokesperson said a Licence to Occupy agreement has also been signed with Sport Northland, enabling the complex to continue to operate on KDC land at Selwyn Park.
KCCPT was formed in 2006 with the aim of working in partnership with KDC to develop a replacement community pool.
The complex, which opened in January 2010, includes a solar-heated 50 metre outdoor pool, the only one in Northland, hydrotherapy pool, learn to swim pool, grandstand, changing rooms and office/reception area.
Staff, community get behind Pedal for Plunket
Staff and customers of The Warehouse store in Dargaville are putting their money where their cycling feet are by attempting to ride a stationary bicycle 999km in the Pedal for Plunket fundraising campaign.
The Warehouse staff member Mel Gibson rides a stationary bike to help raise funds for Plunket. Photo/Rose Stirling
Pedal for Plunket is a country-wide cycle relay that sees team members from The Warehouse, Plunket and other supporters cycle the length of New Zealand from March 6-26, to raise funds for Plunket.
Sales support manager Glenda Lewis said she has set a target of 999km for their store in Dargaville.
"Our aim across all of our stores, is to get as many kilometres as we can. So collectively we can say we travelled from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South island."
The result she says will hopefully be lots of funds raised for Plunket.
Furthermore, the store supported the event on its opening day with staff making and selling baked goods, it also hosted a barbecue which was sponsored by Silver Fern Farms and Plunket provided free car seat safety checks on site.
Customers can donate a gold coin to ride a kilometre in support of Plunket or add a dollar to their purchase at checkout time.
The bi-annual campaign, organised by The Warehouse, raised more than $450,000 in 2017.
"Funds raised from Pedal for Plunket 2019 will help provide baby essentials such as nappies, beanies and warm clothing, to families who need a little extra support across New Zealand."
For more information or to make a donation online you can visit: http://pedalforplunket.org.nz/
* Email Rose.stirling@gmail.com if you have news that you would like to share with Northern Advocate readers.
