A permanent home for an important community hub.
Kāpiti Coast Food Bank Chair, Dave Edwards is technically retired. But, until the local community had a permanent location for this important social service, he wasn’t going to commit to any kind of rest.
The Food Bank in its current form has been a long time coming. “Over the past few years, the Food Bank we have had to relocate several times for different reasons, which has been unsettling for volunteers and clients” says Dave, “due to increasing demand, it was high time we secured a more permanent home to better serve our community.”
Kapiti Community Food Bank Chair, Dave Edwards standing in front of their new relocatable premises.
An innovative solution
After putting their heads together and brainstorming various solutions, a Food Bank Trustee came up with the idea of purchasing a relocatable building. “This meant we could undertake renovations and really make it our own," says Dave, "and it means that, if we need to move again in the future, it will be as simple as picking the building up and moving it to a new home."
The building, a former classroom, which sits on a plot of land opposite Coasters Musical Theatre on Paraparaumu's Hinemoa Street, is kitted out with plenty of storage space, a welcoming reception area and private consultation spaces where volunteers can assess the needs of visitors.
"This space plays a key role in welcoming new clients in a dignity-preserving way," says Dave. This is necessary now more than ever, he explains, as the Food Bank is welcoming more and more people who have never previously experienced food insecurity or accessed a social service.
"The need for our services is increasing," says Dave, "for many, COVID has caused job losses or reduced working hours, and the rising cost of food and petrol mean many families are facing hardship."
A coming-together of the community
When the Food Bank's ribbon was cut in early September, it was the culmination of months of community backing, thousands in generous local donations and hundreds of volunteer hours. "This project is a result of amazing teamwork and generosity from the community," says Dave. This includes organisations such as Kāpiti MenzShed, Lions and Rotary who put in countless hours of painting and carpentry hours, and even offered crucial help on move-in day.
"The Food Bank really defines the term 'for the community, by the community," says Dave.
Nikau Foundation was delighted to support this important project, providing a grant of $13,000 from the Kāpiti Disability Support and Richard and Doreen Evans Charitable Trust.
