Over 35,000 Items for Those in Need

Our College families rally each year when the call goes out to offer support to those in need in the community. In our own largely wealthy community, it is sometimes hard to grasp the reality that here in Auckland, there are families who struggle to put food on the table or provide shoes for their children. 

In the first College ‘Food Bank’ collection of the year, over 35,000 – yes that’s right, over 35,000! – non-perishable food items were donated by College families for Presbyterian Support North; a charitable organisation  located at St David’s Presbyterian Church in Grafton, which distributes emergency food parcels to individuals and families in need in the Auckland region.

Sadly, the need is great in our city and food parcels are distributed to thousands of families each year. If a family has run into financial difficulty, they can be supplied food for four days, but no more than twice a year, and at the same time they are given budgeting advice. The parcels are created through the donation of goods such as ours or from businesses or funds raised. Saint Kentigern has been a long-time supporter of this cause with food being regularly donated from each of our campuses. 

On this occasion, it was Wishart House at the College that led the charge by far, collecting almost 13,000 items, almost double that of Cargill who followed in second place. Service Prefect, Lizzie Ellis led a team of students to deliver the mountain of food items to Presbyterian Support North, assisting to unpack and stock the shelves. 

Our sincere thanks to all our families who donated items. Food Bank gives us cause to reflect on those less fortunate than ourselves; we are blessed to be able to help those who may otherwise struggle or go without.