Throughout May, supermarket staff and customers helped Balclutha New World owner Josh Lee and food hub manager Lee-Ann Michelle channel New World’s annual Family 2 Family campaign into 286 grocery bags and an additional cash donation of almost $5000.
The significant increase on last year’s 49 bags may have been due to Mr Lee’s motivational style.
"At first the challenge was to double it," he said.
"But when they made that look easy I said, ‘If it gets to 250 I’ll take a swim with all my clothes on in front of everybody’.
"It turns out telling people how they can help you chuck your boss in the swimming pool is a solid pitch."
Customers could either fill a paper bag with suggested grocery items or purchase a pre-filled $20 bag in-store for donation.
Mr Lee said the campaign had strengthened ties between the supermarket and the food support service.
"For a little region like Clutha to show out like that, we’ve really punched above our weight," he said.
"It’s been great to partner with them to strengthen our relationship, and we want to continue to do that afterwards."
Food Hub manager Lee-Anne Michelle said the 2026 Family 2 Family initiative’s strong local traction was timely.
"Some of our clients are facing quite hard choices this year, so the way Josh and his team encouraged the whole community will mean basic food choices are solved for more people."
The hub would also be running Balclutha’s annual book sale as a fundraiser this year, beginning at TPŌMA tomorrow, she said.
