Donated freezers boost for busy foodbank
The days of asking around for freezer space are over at Foodbank Canterbury in Timaru with the arrival of two donated freezers.
The Timaru Host Lions Club purchased and delivered a Daewoo sevenshelf upright freezer to the centre along with a second-hand chest-high unit in excellent condition from a club member’s friend.
Centre co-ordinator Juliana Sykes said the organisation, which collects rescued food from supermarkets for social agencies to use for their food parcels, did not always have enough space to store donated frozen goods.
Until now they had to distribute that produce in other organisations’ freezers and then pick it up when it was needed.
‘‘Sometimes with donations of meat and frozen vege it’s been difficult without enough space and we’ve had to go around charities and drop bits off.’’
She said Moloney Distribution Ltd had also been helpful in this area.
The extra freezers would be a ‘‘huge help’’ and it meant volunteer helpers would not have to travel, she said.
‘‘It will make life much easier and we can accept as much food as is donated.’’
Lions had also donated a step ladder and sack barrow to the centre earlier in the year, Sykes said.
Lions club treasurer Ray Jackson said the club had been picking up food from the centre for Family Works two days a week and that’s how they found out another freezer was needed.
The club had managed to negotiate a good deal with a Timaru store for the new unit, he said.
‘‘They do a great job and we’re thrilled to help,’’ Jackson said.
He said the Lions club had made $21,000 worth of grants over the past year in Timaru.
‘‘Sometimes with donations of meat and frozen vege it’s been difficult without enough space and we’ve had to go around charities and drop bits off.’’
Juliana Sykes