Foodbanks feeling the pressure
By Witt Journalism student Brooke Sheehan
Daily Bread: New Plymouth Foodbank supervisor Tracey McIntosh with food for the needy. Photo / Taranaki Daily News
A surge in young people relying on handouts from Taranaki foodbanks means the service is struggling to meet demand.
New Plymouth Foodbank supervisor Tracey McIntosh said a spike in the number of 18 to 20-year-olds - many on sickness or unemployment benefits - had contributed to an over-all increase in the number of people requiring help.
"We're just matching demand. We can still get through to the end of the year with our food drive and what we've got, it may just mean giving out less," Ms McIntosh said.
In the first six months of this year, New Plymouth Foodbank reported a 44 per cent increase in people requiring food parcels, compared with the same period in 2008. Up until June, the foodbank had assisted 1086 people, compared with 752 last year.
This continues a trend beginning in 2008 when the foodbank reported helping 1704 people a 35 per cent increase on the 1253 it saw in 2007.
Ms McIntosh said the number of elderly clients was also on the rise, which was unusual because older people often found it most difficult to ask for help.
"It's a pride thing, I think. They've been trying to manage for themselves, but once they come meet us and are comfortable talking to us, it's good for them," she said.
Foodbanks around the region also reported issuing more food parcels.
The Stratford Foodbank co-ordinator Elva Thomas also reported a growing number of youth.
"A couple of weeks ago, a few young men came in who had been stood down from their jobs."
She said there was also an alarming number of 15-21-year-olds needing help.
"These are the ones that really concern me.
"For various reasons, they can't go home and live with their parents, which is the part I find really sad," she said.
Inglewood Foodbank convener Don Reeves reported higher numbers of young families and Hawera Foodbank manager Hazel Robinson had noticed an increase in the middle-aged bracket.
Ms McIntosh said the majority of people who approached the New Plymouth centre were on some kind of benefit and were no longer eligible to receive Work and Income food grants which they could use in stores.
"Each time they bring a letter of decline [for a Work and Income food grant] they can get a food parcel," she said.
To get the package they were also required to provide some form of ID or a community services card.
Ms McIntosh said it was important to guard against people taking advantage of the service.
"We're a hand-up not a hand-out and it does take some people time to realise we are not a supermarket. In the past some people, but not many, have brought in shopping lists."
WHAT'S IN A FOOD PARCEL
- For a single person (lasts 1-2 days)
2 tins of fruit (from a selection of peaches, apricots, fruit salad, pears)
1 tin of corn
1-2 tins of spaghetti or baked beans
1 tin of beetroot
1 tin of fish (salmon or tuna)
1 box of cereal (cornflakes, Weet-Bix or porridge)
1 bag of pasta
1 (small) bag of rice
1 pack of crackers or snack biscuits
1 (small) bag of teabags
1 litre of milk (if there is plenty)
Vegetables (small amount, and only if available)
1 carton of 6 eggs
3-4 bags of bread
- For a family (lasts 1-2 days)
4-5 tins of fruit (from a selection of peaches, apricots, fruit salad, pears)
2 tins of beetroot
3-4 tins of fish (salmon or tuna)
3-4 tins of corn
4-5 tins of spaghetti and baked beans (combined)
2 boxes of cereal (cornflakes, Weet-Bix or porridge)
3-4 bags of pasta
2 spreads (jam or peanut butter if available)
1 bag of rice
2 packs of crackers or snack biscuits
2 juice sachets
Vegetables (if available)
2 litre cartons of milk
1 margarine (if available)
1 carton of eggs (12-15)
1 piece of meat (if available)
Bread (depends on size of family)