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Foodbank Canterbury - an overview
Foodbank Canterbury is a secular, independent non-faith based, non- politically aligned, not activist controlled food rescue organisation with a singular mission in mind: to fight hunger, feed hope and reduce food waste.
Under ‘normal’ times, FBC rescues 2 tonnes of food per day which resources over 5800 meals daily for the vulnerable and at-risk in the Canterbury, Mid-South Canterbury and West Coast regions. We are a 100% Not-for-profit organisation dealing with over 135 agencies throughout Christchurch alone – everyone from The City Mission, St Vinnies, the Maraes and other Iwi organisations, Plunket, Pasifika groups, Women’s Refuges, Community Centres and food pantries, school districts etc.
Food insecurity is found in just about every New Zealand neighbourhood. Those who are vulnerable all have the same thing in common: they are unaware of where or when they will have their next meal.
During the COVID-19 crisis, many have become unemployed, others who have kept their jobs have seen their earnings decrease due to reduced hours, and others are expecting to lose earnings in the next months. The economic shocks they have experienced have pushed many into hunger - potentially for the first time.
From FBC research we are hearing that people who live in rural areas are also hurting, often facing hunger at higher rates, in part because of the unique challenges living remotely presents. It is our FBC goal to attempt to address this need. We will be allocating funds specifically for this project.
FBC will establish an efficient infrastructure to work with local rural food assistance organizations through the FBC Mobile Food Hub to deliver and supply nutritious food to Canterbury’s rural food insecure population.
Foodbank represents a ‘triple-win’ for our communities – reducing food wastage and protecting the environment; providing food relief to hungry and vulnerable people; and strengthening our society through collaboration with local charities and volunteerism.
In 2018, we took out the Westpac Business Champions Supreme Award for Small Enterprises!
FBC is the accredited member for NZ of The Global Foodbanking Network.