New Zealand - Aotearoa is being called on to step up, as Meet the Need launches an urgent nationwide donation drive to respond to a growing food insecurity crisis.

With demand for support at an all-time high, more than 150 community organisations are currently waiting for access to essential protein, leaving many families without the nutritious food they need.

Meet the Need Board Chair, Nick Fisher says the situation has reached a critical point. “For years, farming families have been the quiet backbone connecting rural and urban New Zealand, donating livestock that helps put milk and mince on the tables of families doing it tough,” says Fisher.

“But right now, there are children who haven’t had mince for months. Families are stretching tins and toast, going without the protein many of us take for granted.”

While farmer support remains vital, Meet the Need is now urgently calling on all New Zealanders to get behind the cause, particularly through financial donations.

“Demand is higher than ever, and donations have slowed significantly. This is a critical moment,” Fisher says. “To continue feeding families who depend on us, we need support from both rural and urban New Zealand - now more than ever.”

Financial contributions enable Meet the Need to process livestock donations, distribute meat and milk efficiently, and reach communities across the country.

“Whether it’s a farmer donating livestock or a family in the city making a cash contribution, every action plays a role,” says Fisher. “Your support becomes more than food - it becomes strength, dignity, and hope for families facing real hardship.”

Meet the Need is urging individuals, businesses, and communities to donate, share the message, and help ensure no family goes without access to nutritious protein.

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