Volunteers help hungry families this Christmas

More than 2000 volunteers across the country yesterday gathered to pack 31,000 food boxes for families in need.

The boxes contain 20 items, intended to feed a family of 4-6, including staples and treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It’s an initiative launched in 2001 by Life Community. Since then it estimates it’s fed more than a million people, and is now the country’s largest Christmas charity initiative, with 500 partner organisations.

Head of community response, Rebecca So’e, says it has raised $900,000 through sponsors and partnerships, but appealed to the public for a remaining $300,000, by way of asking people to donate $40 each.

“We’ve seen hardship stats get worse across the country and one-in-five kids are living in food scarcity...We know a lot of families are dreading an empty table and feelings of failure as a parent this Christmas. Donating a Christmas Box not only means a family has a meal to look forward to, it removes a lot of stress and worry and tells that family that someone sees them and cares about them.”

Solo mum Olivia Huang knows the difference the charity makes. Made redundant from her job this year she can only just afford to put basic food on the table.

“We drive past McDonald’s to go home every day from school and my son asks me if we can go there, because his friends have ... parties there. I don’t know how to explain that if we do, we won’t be able to eat the next day. Sometimes I buy him a cheeseburger and go without food.

“I’m so grateful for New Zealanders helping me in my time of need... My son asks me: who are they? I tell him I don’t know but we have to pay it forward and help other people, not only people we know but people we don’t know too, because we’re so touched a stranger would do this for us.”