Leading up to each Christmas, we hear about the needs of families throughout New Zealand who are doing it tough
financially. This year the need is greater – the presence of COVID means people who have never before accessed social
services are struggling and find themselves reaching out in need.
Take for example the couple with three high-school aged children. Both husband and wife work and were doing well,
including fast-tracking the paying off of their mortgage, until lockdown came. The husband’s plumbing business had to
cease operating meaning no income for almost ten weeks. The wife’s employer applied for the wage subsidy, but it meant
the wife received only a portion of her usual earnings. The family’s overall income dropped to about 25% of what it was
before lockdown and, for the first time in their lives, they were forced to access a foodbank.
Families like this one are among those who Visionwest will be supporting through Christmas From The Heart, our third
annual Christmas food and gift parcel event.
Last year, in just five days, we provided food and gift parcels to over 1,200 West Auckland families. This year’s event
will run for seven days, and the demand is greater.
Brook Turner, Christmas From The Heart Team Leader, says, “Christmas From The Heart is more than just handing out food.
Christmas From The Heart is a reminder to our community that, at a time when they are struggling financially, someone
really does care.”
This year has been a challenging year for many resulting in an unprecedented demand for food support. In the entire
2020-2021 financial year, Visionwest’s Pātaka Kai gave away 8,650 food parcels feeding 32, 427 adults and children. This
year, in just two months (September and October) 8,500 food parcels, feeding 27,449 adults and children, were given
away.
Christmas From The Heart runs from Tuesday December 14 to Wednesday December 22 (excluding weekend days). West Auckland residents who need support can phone 0800FOOD 00 to book a time to come to the Visionwest campus and pick up food and gifts. Social distancing and all other COVID precautions will be followed.