Food donations can be made online

A website helping collect food donations for those less fortunate has launched in Taranaki.

The Foodbank Project launched in Nelson in 2016 as a joint effort between the Salvation Army, Countdown and Nelsonbased internet company Lucid. It allows shoppers to add donations to their online grocery shopping.

Captain Karl Foreman, of the Salvation Army Corps, said it was a great way for people to donate from their own homes.

‘‘Underlying the beautiful city that we have there’s a fair bit of poverty,’’ he said.

‘‘[Previously] we relied on donations through our foodbank and that’s really solely on people who donate in the supermarket.’’

He gave the example of a student from Egmont Village School who wanted to donate his $50 of birthday money to charity and went online, finding the Watties Cans for Good appeal.

‘‘He got his whole school on board and they donated cans to the Salvation Army.

‘‘People like him who look online, they can actually contribute financially or with food.’’

The Taranaki set-up, which has been running for about three weeks, means people from Whanganui to Waitomo can donate items that are then delivered to the Salvation Army in New Plymouth to support people across the region. People are able to choose individual items to donate, or bundles containing a collection of items that are often needed.

They also work with St Mary’s Foodbank so no-one takes advantage and uses both services, but it also highlights the level of need, he said.

In the past year the Salvation Army has supported around 400 struggling families in Taranaki.

‘‘Countdown also delivers which is a blessing . . . There’s sometimes fresh vegetables or meat and so it’s delivered to you straight away.’’

They had had about three or four ‘‘generous’’ online donations so far.

‘‘The generosity of the public is just unreal. It’s just really inspiring.’’

Donations can be www.foodbank.org.nz. made at