Balclutha Food bank volunteer Ella Kell packs a food parcel
for someone in need. Photo by Rachel Taylor.
Unusually high demand has resulted in stocks at the
community food bank dwindling in the lead up to Christmas.
Ministers Association treasurer Peter Ross said the number of
people seeking assistance this year had more than doubled
compared with last year.
In the past, the foodbank was giving out an average of five
food parcels per week.
It was now averaging 12, Mr Ross said.
"Most people don't like asking for charity.
"People come to the food bank because they need to get food
and they don't have the resources."
People are referred to the food bank by staff at the
Balclutha Information Centre.
Information Centre spokeswoman Sophie McIntosh agreed the
number of people they were referring to the food bank had
increased, with different people asking for help almost
daily.
"Last Monday there were eight, and the week before that there
were eight [on Monday] as well.
"We started to wonder what was happening over the weekend."
Food bank volunteer Ella Kell said some food items had been
donated over the Christmas period, but demand was very high
and the food bank stocks were running low.
Food collected from the annual can-cruise and the community
Christmas concerts and events represented the bulk of what
was collected for the year, Mrs Kell said.
rachel.taylor@odt.co.nz
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