‘They’re people we’ve never seen before’
How an old cinema, new fridge-freezers and military precision are behind a vital community service. Lawrence Gullery reports.
In the middle of a crisis, Terry Bradley is in his element.
He’s falling back on his military training, his supermarket management experience and his faith to help people in his Te Kuiti community ‘‘cross the road’’ towards better times.
Bradley is the senior pastor of Journey Church and co-ordinator of the local food bank.
When the government raised the coronavirus alert, Bradley and his team swung into action.
The Sunday Star-Times and Stuff is celebrating the coronavirus champions – including essential services workers and community volunteers like Bradley – who are keeping New Zealand going through the lockdown.
‘‘My role now is to forecast what we might need to operate in a few weeks and in a few months from now, so we’re prepared and not reacting,’’ Bradley said.
‘‘There are a lot of people who are now out of work and others who have had their hours reduced, so we want to act as a bridge for them to make sure they have enough food to live.’’
Before the virus hit, the food bank was distributing about 15 food parcels a week. Now it’s more like 100 and Bradley expects demand to reach about 250 and will plan for 500.
The food bank is operating out of an old cinema in the middle of town. The foyer has been converted into a store room. Extra fridge-freezer units were bought and there is a shop next door which the food bank can use too, if demand increases.
Bradley has set up a highlyorganised system. There are four people packing, one person working off-site on logistics and a few drivers for home deliveries.
‘‘Our team wash their hands before they leave their homes to come in to us. They arrive, wash their hands again and clean down the surface they’re working on.
‘‘When they leave, they reverse the process. So we’re following strict hygiene protocols, wearing masks and gloves.’’
Bradley has a second team of volunteers now ready to join.
‘‘It will mean we can rotate the teams if we need, so they don’t burn out. If someone gets sick, and the whole team has to stand down, we’ve got another team ready to go.’’
Bradley said he had about 25 volunteers – some from the Journey Church and others from the community.
Others offered to donate goods but Bradley has asked, for safety reasons, people donate money instead, so it can be used to buy more food. He thought so far people had given nearly $3000.
‘‘There are people coming in that we’ve never seen before. People of all ages, from all backgrounds, who have never found themselves in this sort of situation. There is a sense that some people are uncomfortable asking for help, but they are willing to take it to get to some level of normality.’’
The food bank is well resourced via three main suppliers and the generosity of the community. ‘‘When we create a food order, we send it through to the Western Waikato Emergency Operating Centre, they notify New World supermarket and then New World confirm the order with us.
‘‘We also buy from Bidvest Direct in Hamilton and Copelands in Te Awamutu, to fill the gaps, if we’re waiting for a New World order.’’
The food bank is well funded through organisations such as Ministry of Social Development, Len Reynolds Trust, Trust Waikato and Women’s Refuge.
The immediate support from the Western Waikato Emergency Operating Centre is crucial though and Bradley is worried what will happen when it’s turned off, when the alert level lowers.
‘‘When that happens, I hope the government will encourage other philanthropic organisations to help out. People have lost their jobs, might not be able to return to work, so the impact of this could be much more longer term.’’
Bradley estimates the food bank will still need to supply 100 food parcels a week, postlockdown. The parcels cost about $50 to $70 each.
Although the situation looks grim, Bradley sounds energised by working at the centre of relief for his rural Waitomo district.
He agrees, his former work as a supermarket manager and earlier career in the New Zealand Army means he runs a slick operation.
‘‘I guess I haven’t been able to shake my military training.
‘‘But it’s also about my faith because I can see the good we are doing, bringing strength, life and hope to people.’’