A well-deserved award for Good Neighbour
Local charity Good Neighbour was recently announced as winner of the Sustainable Future category in the TECT Community Awards.
The charity, well known for their awesome contribution to the community, are leaders in cultivating community gardens, distributing rescued food, delivering firewood to keep people warm, and carrying out backyard projects and building maintenance. They also provide support to those who are facing tough issues in their lives.
Of all the ways this team provides a helping hand, their environmental impact is what stood out to the judges the most. Good Neighbour prevents a whopping 462 tonnes of food ($3.1M worth) going to the landfill each year. The food they receive is also repurposed into their kitchen, where they make meals for the community, provide catering, and mentor students by teaching them culinary skills and giving them confidence in their own abilities.
TECT Community Awards judge Carlo Ellis says the judges were impressed with the scale and success of Good Neighbour’s food rescue. “It is a fantastic model of recovery and redistribution, not only ensuring less food goes to waste, but providing it to those that need it most.”
Cam Hill, Good Neighbour Community Impact Manager, says they are proud to win the award, and that it goes out to all the businesses, volunteers and supporters that make their work possible.
“We rescue about 9.5 tonnes of food from 12 local supermarkets and redistribute it to over 50 local charities and organisations. We couldn’t do that without all the people and organisations that get behind us,” says Cam.
“A huge shout out to all our supporters! We couldn’t be more honoured to serve our community here in Tauranga Moana. Thanks so much to everyone. Winning this means so much to our team, who are passionate and totally love what they do.”