Scheme for needy looks for support

Rochelle Hedges and Chris Youens deliver a "no questions asked" free meal in Whangarei City every Monday and Friday night. Photo / John Stone

When Chris Youens set off into the night two years ago to investigate homelessness in Whangarei he was told by police there were only two people living on streets.

In fact he found pockets of people living in the CBD, under bridges on the city fringe, in Mair Park and even in Kamo.

Mr Youens was searching for people in need of his then-newly established community project dubbed Soul Food, which now feeds about 50 in-need or homeless people every Monday and Friday night.

"When I first started, I dressed up in rags and walked through the city and Rose Gardens," the builder by trade said. "As I was walking past one shop I heard a guy asking if they had any leftovers, and they told him no.

"I told him, I know where there's a group giving out free food. I looked the same as him so he trusted me."

Mr Youens and co-founder Rochelle Hedges saw the need for a "no questions asked" free feed in the city and they spend about 20 hours each per week on organising the evenings, which includes cooking, collecting orders and donations and setting up a small kitchenette at the Rose St bus stop.

"We don't ask questions. If people are coming for a feed, we just feed them," Mr Youens said. Soul Food has until now been funded by Whangarei MP Shane Reti, who pays the group's supplier bills of about $350 a month, but Mr Youens is now looking for wider support for his unregistered charity.

"Shane has been helping us with the bills," Mr Youens said.

Other provisions come from the the pockets of volunteers, Whangarei Growers' Market, Tikipunga Export Meats and occasional donations from social media followers. Bedding, clothing and personal items are also given to those who need them.

Soul Food bases itself at the Rose St bus terminal, which is less-than-ideal when the weather turns, Mr Youens says. Ideally, he would like to set up shop in a building. Find "Soul Food. What's Cooking. Whangarei" on Facebook or call/text Chris Youens on 027 442 3852 if you are able to help Soul Food.