Aucklanders' need for food parcels has doubled in past year, City Mission says

Wednesday, 30 June 2021

Mothers are going without food so their children can eat as thousands of Aucklanders struggle to put food on the table.

In the past 12 months, Auckland City Mission has handed out nearly 50,000 food parcels – more than double the previous year.

During the first lockdown, demand for parcels tripled. Now it seems the “new normal” means twice as many people need food support.

“The really extraordinary or distressing thing is it’s not back at pre-Covid levels – or anywhere near it,” City Missioner Helen Robinson said.

Demand for food parcels is double what it was before the pandemic. (File photo)

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The Mission regularly hears stories from mothers bearing the brunt of food poverty, two-income families without enough money to feed themselves, and people robbing Peter to pay Paul, she said.

People will put off the electricity bill to pay for medical expenses, push out the doctor’s bill to afford transport costs – and food becomes the “last thing on the budget”.

It’s a case of “How can you stretch the impossible dollar?” Robinson said.

Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson is asking Aucklanders to help feed those in need.

More than half the people who came to the Mission in the past year did so for the first time.

That shows the breadth of food insecurity is increasing, Robinson said. It’s hitting people who used to be able to afford a weekly grocery shop.

“There’s just not enough money for people to meet expenses,” she said.

The $20 benefit increase, which comes into effect on Thursday, will ease the pressure a bit, she said.

But it’s also not going to meet the needs of people facing sky-high Auckland rents alongside bills, medical fees, transport costs and school expenses, she said. Auckland City Mission will still be plugging the gaps this winter.

Robinson said it will be prioritising making sure there’s enough protein in the food parcels, bulking up the meat and dairy offering, and introducing a system called ‘more choice’ so families can ask for what they need.

Making sure the food parcels are nutritious and uphold the dignity and mana of the recipients doesn’t come cheap though, Robinson said.

“I’m making a very genuine plea on behalf of the Mission to say, please help us feed Auckland.”

The Auckland City Mission Winter Appeal runs from July 5.