Countdown congratulates Just Zilch on new home

29 February 2016: Countdown’s Palmerston North Food Rescue partner, Just Zilch, has officially opened their new food bank premises on Featherston Street.

The new premises, which opened on Featherston Street on Saturday, will be supported by Countdown Palmerston North, Rangitikei St, Broadway, and Kelvin Grove, with each of the stores donating food that is still fit for consumption, but not fit for sale to give to families in need.

At the event, Countdown presented Just Zilch with $1000 worth of vouchers to buy food they may need to further support the local community.

Countdown Palmerston North Store manager, Tanya Gibney, said that the relationship Countdown has with Just Zilch is an important part of the work that stores and teams in Palmerston North do to help out in the community.

“Working with Just Zilch is such a rewarding part of my job and an important part of our business. It’s great to be able to provide food, which would otherwise go to waste, to those in need around Palmerston North.”

The four Countdown stores from around Palmerston North also support Just Zilch through a weekly donation of $100, which goes towards their running costs, allowing them to continue helping those in need.

With help from the local community, Just Zilch has transformed the building at 248 Featherston Street into a custom purpose free-store, allowing them help out those in need in the community even better than before.

Rebecca Culver, Just Zilch Director, says “On average we have 142 people through our doors every day, and I know they are appreciative of the kind donations of our suppliers. Just Zilch simply wouldn't exist without the generous support of companies like Countdown. We want to thank all the local businesses and individuals that gave donations and time to help us build our new free-store - it's a fantastic community facility.”

Countdown Managing Director, Dave Chambers, says “As part of our commitment to being active locally, our policy is to donate food that is still fit for consumption, wherever possible, to community charity partners within our communities. In the last year alone, we provided $3.5 million worth of food throughout New Zealand.”

Just Zilch rescue surplus goods and make them available to those in need, filling a gap in the community. With the help of volunteers, the store operates Monday – Friday 4:30 – 6:00pm.

Just Zilch is an existing partner of Countdown’s Food Rescue programme throughout New Zealand, other charity partners including The Salvation Army, FairFood, 0800 HUNGRY, Good Neighbour, FoodShare, Kaibosh, and KiwiHarvest.

To download the video from the opening please follow: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1aark6yz595vofe/AACcyMLF0E75ICzS_SMAzzIha?dl=0

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