Kitchens Working Round the Clock

Prisoners from Christchurch Men’s and Women’s Prisons have worked around the clock over the last fortnight, feeding hundreds of extra hungry mouths after February 22nd’s devastating earthquake in Christchurch.

Normally over 3300 meals are prepared daily for the 1100 prisoners at Christchurch Men’s, Women’s and Rolleston Prisons. Over the last fortnight those numbers ballooned with prisoners working in two commercial kitchens at Christchurch Men’s preparing meals for many more.

“We were feeding in excess of 100 Corrections staff from out-of-town who were here relieving their colleagues, offenders on community work who are involved in clean up projects at local schools and public spaces, some rescue workers and tired communities who are still without access to power, water and other local infrastructure,” says Robin Benefield, National Manager Corrections Inmate Employment.

“At one stage we even had prisoners working a late shift, through the night to 3am to keep up with the demand for healthy and nutritious food.”

“We had the resources, and the labour, to offer some practical support to Christchurch, and with our prisons largely unaffected by the quake, we were only too happy to do so. We told the prisoners working in the kitchens exactly what we were supporting and the difference it was making and they worked incredibly hard.”

“Prisoners also made up over 5000 ration packs which were delivered to welfare centres around the city and around 350 one kilogram heat and eat packs of macaroni cheese, stew and mince meals which were distributed to Cantabrians by the Rangiora Express group and the New Brighton welfare centre.”

“In addition, packs of fresh vegetables from the organic gardens at Christchurch Men’s and Rolleston prisons, sanitation packs containing wipes and hand sanitiser and welfare packs including non-perishable food and fresh water were supplied to our staff in Christchurch and the local community.”

ENDS

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