Foodbank in demand as the lockdown bites
what announcements were made and what alert level the city was in.
“The demand is always there ... it’s always growing, and I think it’s a sign of the times since the last lockdown with regards to rising rents, household income and job security.”
She said the need was almost immediate and suspected families were left “scrambling” with the sudden stop to breakfasts and lunches in schools.
“Lunches in schools is an amazing programm, but I think the question needs to be asked about what do we do when we go into lockdown. How do we support those families relying on those meals?”
She said some recipient charities were now making family care packs as opposed to community meals, which needed more food.
Gibson said the New Zealand Food Network had provided “generous” support through providing bulk food.
Requests for help were for the basics like produce, cereal and milk.
“People aren’t asking for the luxuries, they’re asking for the necessities.”
Gibson said many restaurants made “amazing” donations early in the lockdown and the “supersupportive” community in terms of goods like citrus and avocados.
A Rotorua single mother of two, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said her weekly supermarket shop went from usually $80 to $130 in the first week of lockdown.
She only worked part-time and earned $450 a week to spend on everything.
She said having children at home who would usually get the free lunches at school added to the bill of the already expensive cost of living.
The woman is a permanent resident and has lived in New Zealand for eight years.
“How am I going to give a good life to my young kids?” she said.
Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Shirley Mccombe said many people pay for rent, power and petrol to get to work, but then have nothing left for food.
Food insecurity was an issue for a “huge” number of clients and is often what brought people to the service, she said.
Even those with money in their budget didn’t have much.
The lockdown had worsened this for families, with children now at home not having the meals they got at school.
She said they tried to allocate $80 a week for food which was doable albeit not a lot, and many didn’t have enough money to stock up their cupboards. Mccombe said they could help with issues around benefits, advocacy with creditors, debt reduction and support which can reduce pressure on finances.
“Sadly, for others, they still struggle and this has been made more difficult over the past couple of years with soaring rent and food costs.”
Rotorua Budget Advisory Services manager Pakanui Tuhura said some people live day-to-day in terms of providing food for themselves and families to stay healthy.
He said cutting back food bills was usually where people turn when trying to manage budgets, and many clients were used to making do with whatever they have.
Sometimes it was valid, like cutting expensive takeaways or ingredients, he said, but sometimes it was because other costs and debts were prioritised over food.
When this happens, Tuhura said the team advise on the importance of food expenses and nutrition, as wells as suggest other ways to get food, like food banks, neighbourhood gathering, and family support.