The pantry feeding the most needy in our community is bare.
The Masterton Foodbank needs $30,000 annually to provide about 500 food parcels given out each month.
Fundraising co-ordinator Steve Sale said a $750 grant given to the agency this week by the Wairarapa Building Society would go a long way to helping replenish the empty cupboards and supporting local people in need.
"This is just fantastic," he said. "It's good to see the support for our community. This will go a long way. It's lovely they can help us when we are in need.
"The shelves are a bit empty right now."
The community does get behind the service when they run the community drive in November with police, ambulance and the fire service helping, Mr Sale says.
"We can only spend what we have."
But they need food now.
Many people were afraid to ask for help but the foodbank was there to help support them, he said.
"People are shy to ask for help but they wouldn't ask if they didn't need it."
Each food parcel contains basic supplies such as bread, flour, sugar, spaghetti, eggs, milk and cereal - and sometimes, when they have them, fresh fruit, vegetables and sausages.
They also take donations of food from those who can help.
"We will take anything off people's hands if they can to give it," he said.
Wairarapa Building Society marketing manager Vicki Thompson said the organisation gave about 80 per cent of profits each year to different sectors of the community in support of local people.
"We put a lot of our profit into providing community support," she said. "We also wanted to highlight the plight of the foodbank." Wairarapa Building Society general manager Kim McCabe said it was a great cause to support.
Last week, the society gave a donation to the local branch of the Cancer Society.
"It's a good cause. The sad thing is we need [a foodbank] here," he said.