Supermarket and food rescue agencies fill gap left by Canterbury food bank

Woolworths has stepped in to help after Christchurch's biggest food bank announced it's closure on Wednesday.

Foodbank Canterbury will shut its doors just days before Christmas. With rising costs, the charity provider has been forced to introduce a service fee, meaning it's become ineligible for council funding.

In a statement to staff, the food bank said: "This was not an easy decision to make and came only after considering all possible alternatives.

"It was determined that, if we continued to operate past the 22nd of December, we would be putting our ability to pay staff for hours worked and holiday pay at risk."

Foodbank Canterbury supports dozens of charities across the country, including Potters Kitchen in Christchurch, who Breakfast spoke with yesterday.

They said they were unsure what they would do for Christmas this year because they would have no supplies as a result of the closure.

But now, Woolworths has teamed with two other organisations in Christchurch to relieve some of the pressure.

Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Stuart Ennor from Kairos Food Rescue and and Satisfy Food Rescue's Stef Van Meer said it was a sad time for Foodbank Canterbury.

"It wasn't a shock to us, it's just a reflection of the sector we work in, you've always got to be chasing sponsorships, working together with other people constantly to keep your doors open," Ennor said.

Van Meer said Woolworths New Zealand and Satisfy Food Rescue have been working together for 16 years, and this new project will mean expanding operations further into the Northern end of Christchurch and ensure enough food gets rescued and passed on to organisations that need it.

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Christchurch’s largest foodbank to close just days before Christmas

Crippling costs and lost council funding mean Foodbank Canterbury is being forced to shut down.

New Zealand

December 7, 2023

5:14

"The organisations that Foodbank Canterbury have been supporting, we know that we can help support them with food and that work will continue in the new year."

She said it's becoming increasingly difficult to fund food rescue organisations but Woolworths had donated money to help with Satisfy Food Rescue's expansion, which will support charities affected by Foodbank Canterbury's closure.