Foodbank choices made easy

People turning to the Salvation Army West Auckland’s food bank can now make their own food choices.

The charity is the first in the country to pilot the People’s Pantry project.

The model, which started in the United States in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, sees food bank clients choose from a variety of ingredients.

‘‘It’s empowering for people. They’re making healthy choices and choosing ingredients that could make a meal for their families,’’ Salvation Army’s welfare budget co-ordinator Faith Bishop says.

‘‘They are also seeing the financial value of things through the process. We’ve also seen less food wastage. People used to leave items in the carpark that they didn’t want.’’

About 50 people collect food items each week from the Henderson food bank.

Each parcel has three days worth of food and includes basics like cereal, flour, sugar, rice, pasta, canned goods, bread and vegetables, if available.

The client is then able choose extra items.

Seven extra items are allowed for each adult and four for children. There is a limit on how many of one food item can be to taken.

Cleaning products and meat are the most popular items.

‘‘These are things that are often expensive at the supermarket and maybe they can’t afford it normally,’’ Bishop says.

‘‘People are also getting more food through this system. We are putting a clients.’’

The Salvation Army’s operations manager Rhondda Middleton says the charity is just a vessel for supplying goods to families that are hungry and in need.

‘‘We do not need to then choose lot of trust in the what that family eats. They are capable of making those choices and they have proven us right,’’ she says.

People’s Pantry is in need of more food donations. There is space for freezer items and more meat would be appreciated.

Donations can be dropped off to the Salvation Army at 7 View Rd in Henderson, between 9am and 5pm.

The food bank is also looking for a company to donate storage solutions for food items.

Phone 09 837 7169 if you are or know a person who is in need of a food parcel.