Day 303 - Food banks 'run off their feet' as demand surges

Reprinted from The Press
23/12/2011

By Charlie Gates
Earthquakes, an economic downturn and rising living costs have led to record demand for Christchurch food banks this Christmas.

The Christchurch City Mission has had a 50 per cent rise in demand in the Christmas buildup, the 0800 Hungry food bank has seen a 25 per cent increase and the Salvation Army has seen pre-Christmas demand double.

Methodist Mission executive director Mary Richardson said there was "overwhelming need" in Christchurch. She said many people in the city had lost casual jobs. "People are less resilient after this year, and this gives them a feeling that people care," she said.

Christchurch City Missioner Michael Gorman said the mission was giving out about 90 food parcels a day.

"We have never had such demand. It is 50 per cent up on previous years," he said. "People are facing general difficulties with the rising cost of living, but benefits have not changed at all."

Kerry Bensemann, who runs the 0800 Hungry food bank, said the food bank was handing out 120 food parcels a day. "My crew are run off their feet at the moment. It is about 25 per cent up on last year. There is tremendous demand. "Everyone has had a hell of a hard year, and this is about giving everyone a brighter Christmas."

The Salvation Army has teamed with Countdown supermarkets to help feed Christchurch people.

Food that Countdown cannot sell, but remains safe to consume, will be redirected to the Salvation Army as part of a nationwide initiative. The Salvation Army has seen a rise in demand for food parcels.

In the three months before the September 2010 quake, 1100 parcels were distributed to 760 individuals and families in Christchurch, compared with 2325 parcels distributed to 1775 individuals and families in the same period this year.