Taranaki Foodbank - Pātaka Kai
It’s not just about filling bellies with a pre-set Food Parcel for a North Taranaki Foodbank and Pātaka Kai. It’s about delivering services in a dignified manner and utilising local resourcing to help make a healthier, more secure difference to those experiencing hardship.
Waitara Foodbank – Pātaka Kai make sure each person or whānau they support receives a Food Parcel that suits their individual needs, although it is acknowledged tailoring Food Parcels per discretionary choice and with healthy inclusions alone will not sustain long-term food security.
With a vision that whānau are well-fed and resilient, Waitara Foodbank – Pātaka Kai say their purpose is to provide immediate support to those in need. They help navigate secure pathways through taking collaborative action which aims to drive those experiencing food-poverty closer to food security and other wrap-around social services. This includes budgeting advice, CAP money courses, counselling, advocacy and liaisons with the Ministry of Social Development.
In addition, working with local churches, community food distributors, community gardens, māra kai, and with whānau to provide shopping advice and dietary recommendations, Waitara Foodbank – Pātaka Kai recently extended its cooperative support to become a North Taranaki hub for the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN). This move was in direct response to meeting the needs of the wider community of Waitara in the North Taranaki region, with support from local Iwi – Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa and the Ministry of Social Development. With goods also donated locally, the partnership helps to address the nutritional aspects of Food Parcel support with regular provisions of healthy kai shared through bulk surplus and donated foods.
“We have been delighted to bring Waitara Foodbank - Pātaka Kai on board as a hub to increase our ability to support the communities in Taranaki and we are eager to continue supporting their efforts towards building food security in the Northern Taranaki region. They are a breeze to deal with and show strong initiative for getting food where it’s needed most”, say NZFN.
By compiling Food Parcels which honour whānau choice, and including fresh produce and healthy kai, as well as connecting to other social services to offer additional support to whānau, Waitara Foodbank – Pātaka Kai are able to dispel disjointed approaches. Taking a holistic approach and investing in relationships, they say working with others for the greater good of their community is more beneficial to their community members. “We are aware that there are different barriers to people cooking and storing food, as well as different levels of knowledge of cooking. Sometimes our clients need a chat and an empathetic ear, not just some kai. We get to know our clients and work with other agencies to provide help too.”
Ngā mihi Waitara Foodbank – Pātaka Kai! Thank you for demonstrating leadership, collaboration and utilisation of local resourcing to support your community in becoming stronger and more food secure. Your investment in practices that enhance personal well-being, which recognise people before circumstances, is another thread in the story of those making a difference.