Foodbank Canterbury
{{Short description|Foodbank in Christchurch, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
Foodbank Canterbury was a foodbank in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was Christchurch's largest foodbank.{{Cite web |title=Christchurch's largest foodbank to close just days before Christmas |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/07/christchurchs-largest-foodbank-to-close-just-days-before-christmas/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=1 News |language=en}} {{As of|2020|December}}, the charity delivered 9,000 meals to people every day, and redirected 100 tonnes of food away from landfills into the community per month. It was run by John and Janice Milligan, and was a member of the Global Foodbanking Network.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Vicki |date=2020-12-17 |title=Foodbank Canterbury struggling to cope with demand as Covid hits families hard |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/122979361/foodbank-canterbury-struggling-to-cope-with-demand-as-covid-hits-families-hard |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}} In 2021 it was reported that Foodbank Canterbury provided food to 200,000 New Zealanders each month.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Space transport company and charity pantry take out top Canterbury business awards |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/127090583/space-transport-company-and-charity-pantry-take-out-top-canterbury-business-awards |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
History
Foodbank Canterbury started around 2015, originally named City Harvest.{{Cite web |last=Littlewood |first=Matthew |date=2019-06-28 |title=Foodbank Canterbury's Timaru branch to open in July |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/113850838/foodbank-canterburys-timaru-branch-to-open-in-july |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}} In 2018, the charity won the Westpac Business Champions Supreme Award for Small Enterprises for "community impact" and the Christchurch City Council Business For Good award.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=Space transport company and charity pantry take out top Canterbury business awards |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/127090583/space-transport-company-and-charity-pantry-take-out-top-canterbury-business-awards |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
Foodbank Canterbury opened a branch in Timaru in July 2019. In August, Foodbank Canterbury opened a "food rescue centre", which was the first in South Canterbury.{{Cite web |last=Holden |first=Joanne |date=2019-08-08 |title=South Canterbury's first-ever food rescue centre off to strong start |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/114848809/south-canterburys-firstever-food-rescue-centre-off-to-strong-start |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Foodbank Canterbury received over 30 requests for food each day, compared to the four food requests each week that they received before the pandemic. They said that they were 28% short on demand. Foodbank Canterbury applied for Coordinated Incident Management System funding that year, but was denied.
= Closure =
In early December 2023, Foodbank Canterbury announced that they would be closing before Christmas due to rising costs. Foodbank Canterbury had to introduce a service fee due to the rising costs, which made them ineligible for council funding. The charity called for Government help, saying that Foodbank Canterbury would need $1 million to continue operating.
After the announcement, Woolworths started funding charities that would be affected by the closure.{{Cite web |title=Supermarket and food rescue agencies fill gap left by Canterbury food bank |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/08/supermarket-and-two-food-rescue-agencies-step-in-to-fill-gap-left-by-canterbury-food-bank/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=1 News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-08 |title=Woolworths steps in to help Canterbury food rescue organisations |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-business/woolworths-steps-help-canterbury-food-rescue-organisations |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}
Operations
Foodbank Canterbury received their food from supermarkets, manufacturers and farmers, a men's prison in the area, and donations.{{Cite web |last=Ashby-Coventry |first=Esther |date=2020-05-27 |title=Demand for food parcels expected to sky rocket in South Canterbury |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/121638644/demand-for-food-parcels-expected-to-sky-rocket-in-south-canterbury |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Stuff |language=en}} The food was then distributed to charities; {{as of|2020|December|lc=y}}, they supported 125 charities.
Foodbank Canterbury had "full-time sub-hubs" in Timaru and the West Coast.
References
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