PAK Gives Back: bringing food, support and festive season kindness to the community.
PAK’nSAVE’s policy is simple: “New Zealand’s lowest food prices.”
But it’s not just the low prices that help everyday Kiwis. PAK’nSAVE supermarkets are run by locals – and that naturally connects each store to its community.
Store owners and their teams support their communities in many ways – from helping schools and backing sports teams to partnering with local foodbank and food rescue organisations through PAK Gives Back.
One of the teams known for stepping up is PAK’nSAVE Tamatea, which has a long-standing partnership with Nourished for Nil, a legendary Hawke’s Bay organisation founded by locals who believe every family deserves access to good food.
From its beginnings as a handful of volunteers collecting café leftovers, Nourished for Nil has grown into a much-loved charity that now operates multiple services across Napier and Hastings, supporting thousands of whānau each year. The Tamatea team gets involved in all sorts of ways, from donating food to supporting in-store fundraisers and volunteering their time.
Haley Capper, PAK’nSAVE Tamatea’s checkout and online manager, says giving back reflects their store vision: “Enriching our people, feeding our community”.
PAK’nSAVE Tamatea regularly donates good food that might otherwise go to waste to Nourished for Nil. Their daily routine includes team members setting aside good food that can’t be sold, getting it ready for collection by volunteers.
“It’s something that means a lot to us,” says Capper.
“The Nourished for Nil partnership helps such a wide range of people going through difficult situations. We actually have some of our own team members going down in their own time to donate and help with delivering or packing up parcels.
“We also work with a lot of local sports clubs, particularly in the junior age range, by sponsoring or donating food. Our store is located right in the middle of Tamatea and a lot of our team members have children at the schools and sports clubs. I personally play for one of the sports clubs that our store sponsors.
“It’s really nice to know the store I work for – and that I spent a lot of my time at – supports these local initiatives.”
PAK’nSAVE Tamatea is also the buddy store to Nourished for Nil’s Social Supermarket in Napier, a place where people and whānau experiencing food insecurity can shop for groceries with dignity using a points system.
Last year, PAK’nSAVE stores gave back $4.2 million to local charities and organisations like Nourished for Nil as part of PAK Gives Back – and the New Zealand-owned supermarket’s wider HereforNZ commitment to supporting communities, people and the environment.
Yellow sheds across Aotearoa also donated a whole lot of food – more than 1.5 million meals – to food rescue organisations and food banks. PAK’nSAVE Tamatea donated 59,545kg, equivalent to 132,222 meals.
The festive season can be particularly difficult for people, families and whānau who are already doing it tough, so the Tamatea team do what they can to lend a helping hand.
One small tradition that means a lot to the Tamatea team is the visit from a local church choir in the week before Christmas. The store supports the group throughout the year, and their carols bring a bit of seasonal brightness to both the team and shoppers.
Each year, PAK’nSAVE Tamatea donates food to the Napier Community Christmas Lunch, a free event for those in need or alone at Christmas time. The store also donates to Napier City Council’s Christmas Cheer Appeal, which provides gifts and non-perishable food items to locals.
For Capper, being a part of a team that prioritises its people is both rewarding and fulfilling. Their work fosters connections and strong community ties, with each store owned and operated by local people who are plugged into the community.
“It’s pretty near-and-dear to everyone, and there is an impact. Most of our team members have some affiliation to something we sponsor. It gives you a good feeling, and we’re quite proud of what we can do to help the community,” she says.
“When you’ve got the resources and the time and you can give back, it’s something we want to do – because even a little bit goes a long way.”
Find out more about PAK Gives Back here: www.paknsave.co.nz/about-us/here-for-new-zealand