23 November 2015

One final hurdle before Just Zilch’s community-built free-store opens

Just Zilch’s new Featherston Street store will open before Christmas, however, $15,000 is still required to get the project over the line.

Just Zilch is New Zealand’s longest-operating free food store. The non-profit organisation rescues food supplies and provides food to the disadvantaged at no cost and no judgement while helping to reduce waste to landfill.

Just Zilch has provided more than 636,000 food items to more than 111,000 people from the store up until June this year. Last year an average of 126 people came through the doors seeking support, that’s since grown to 151 people per day.

Chair Mark Ward says the team has had fantastic financial and in-kind support for the build.

“It is heart-warming that so many tradies and businesses have given up their free time to help us – this has significantly reduced the build cost. The Just Zilch Board is also very humbled that so many people from throughout the community have donated money – thank you.”

“However,” Mr Ward says, “the project is $15,000 shy of our target. This money is required to make a final payment on our new fridge freezer unit and fitting and joinery work. If anyone, with fitting and joinery experience or a building supply company, is able to help out, then please do get in touch as it will help reduce costs further.”

Just Zilch Director, Rebecca Culver says the team is planning to move in on Tuesday, 15 December to our new store. “It is truly a community built free-store,” she says.

“We could not have done it without the hard work and work-in-kind donations from Isles Construction, Chapple Consulting Architectural Designers, McNae Electrical Solutions, MenzShed NZ, Higgins, Manawatu Building Recycling, Roofing Industries, Brokenshire Plumbing, Master Painters, Fraser Demolition, Mitre 10, Bunnings, Caters, Carpet King, Master Painters and the New Zealand Defence Force.”

“It’s been amazing, we’ve had tradies and businesses from all over the city helping. It has truly been an inspiring project to be involved with and the Just Zilch team is very grateful,” says Miss Culver.

The Just Zilch Give A Little Building page raised over $3000 of which just over $1500 was donated in memory of Palmerston North poet Joy Green. And, $1000 was donated by the Palmerston North Rotary Club.

Lotteries contributed $10,000; The Eastern and Central Community Trust donated $25,000; the Gordon Lindsey Isaacs Fund, $10,000; and Goodman Fielder Cares Trust, $5000; And, another local Trust, which has asked not to be named, donated $10,000.

Miss Culver says as the move is close to Christmas an official opening will be held in the New Year. “We’ll be inviting everyone who has helped build our fantastic new free-store,” she says.

If you want to help Just Zilch get across the line, please visit their main Give a Little Page: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/justzilch.

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