Hawera Foodbank

Hāwera Foodbank is a charitable organisation run by volunteers.
 
“The food bank has been going for about 40 years, and we help people in need with food parcels. We rely mostly on donations and we have a food drive once a year,” Ruth Rangiwahia, Treasurer, said.
 
“We needed a vehicle for the food bank. Our Secretary had been using her own car for about 5 years for the pickups and deliveries. We pick up the bread daily, and since Covid, we have been picking up the food in Eltham as well."

A grant of $45k from Toi Foundation enabled the organisation to purchase a van and upgrade the shelving in the preparation room.

“The new shelving in our prep room has made our job so much easier. We don’t have boxes all over the floor to trip over and they look better than the sagging chipboard ones,” Ruth said.

“We don’t know how we managed before we had the van. With Covid-19 isolation parcels, we travel long distances. Our area goes from Patea to Kaponga. In the first eight weeks, we drove over 3000 kilometres."
 
“Health and safety wise, it is a lot better for us with the van. Instead of bending down, we can slide everything in the back. The van has been an incredible asset, enabling us to deliver to those in need.”

“Toi Foundation has been fantastic support for organisations like ours, that rely on volunteers.”