Downtown Community Ministry

Bulletin

14 February 2007

Supplies in the Downtown Community Ministry food bank have reached crisis point and as a result food parcels are being given out only half full.

Food bank coordinator Graham Anderson says, “We’ve watched the food supplies get lower and lower without any respite. Even when we get donations they go so quick.”

The last couple of Mondays at the food bank have been some of the busiest on record.

Director Stephanie McIntyre says, “More people are joining the Street People Project banking programme and as we’ve identified their needs most have become regular food bank users as well.

“So on one hand it’s great the banking programme is expanding but difficult when there’s not the food to handout.”

DCM’s profile has also increased as we have taken a bigger role at Wellington’s newly refurbished Night Shelter.

We now meet and case manage all the residents who stay at the shelter helping them access to a wider range of services including health and employment.

Other factors to explain the food bank’s lack of food include people’s Christmas generosity abating and our own clients facing greater need due to an over spend at Christmastime.

But it’s not all bleak, a recent $200 donation in food vouchers has been used to help top up supplies for the next few days and the donations from churches and the bin at Wellington city New World continue to help.

Please drop any food bank donations into us at our Lukes Lane offices which can be accessed via Taranaki or Manners Streets in the city.

ENDS

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