New self-serve foodbank launched
Jamie pondering his next “purchase” in our new self-serve foodbank.
New self-serve foodbank launched
“This gives you more autonomy and it feels wonderful. It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it,” said Jenny, one of our lovely clients who was the first person to shop for her own food parcel at our new self-serve Foodbank.
The second person to collect a food parcel in this new way was Jamie who collected food for his family as well as some nappies.
“This is wonderful, you get to choose your own food. I think you wouldn’t waste so much as well,” he said remembering traditional food parcels.
Both Jenny and Jamie said it was a more uplifting experience and that is exactly what we were hoping for.
Our new Foodbank, which includes a traditional parcel pick-up as well as an innovative new self-serve option, was launched on Friday June 23 at a ceremony attended by Foodstuffs representatives and Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb.
The Foodbank building also has a new warehouse area plus offices and is the final piece in our redevelopment which has been built over the last two years. The building was officially opened and blessed on June 8, and now was the time to have the first clients try it out and celebrate the beginning of a new era.
City Missioner Corinne Haines told the launch ceremony: “Today highlights our desire to be relevant today, just like we've tried to be relevant over our 95-year history. The key to moving forward is innovation. We can't keep doing what we've been doing because times change and so we are now able to move forward with this innovative way of helping our clients and supporting those most vulnerable people in our city.”
Foodstuffs South Island’s support centre and store teams have helped us get the Foodbank up and running by sharing their expertise on the layout and set-up. They have donated equipment, provided training, and worked with supply partners to source free or discounted racking, shelving, trolleys and product for us, and we appreciate how they have got behind us with this.
Foodstuffs South Island chief executive Mary Devine said: “Well done to all of the team at the Christchurch City Mission for the incredible work that you've done to bring the self-serve Foodbank to life and the whole precinct. Thank you for having us part of your story. It's a privilege to work with you all. We look forward to continuing to support this wonderful venture.”
Our planning for a self-service Foodbank option goes back years because we believe when clients can choose their food it is empowering, it adds to the mana of the gift of help, and in a practical sense it is better for them to leave with what they want, rather than what they are given.
Often clients find it shameful to ask for food and queue for it. Our self-serve option will hopefully ease this as they put together a parcel from the supermarket style shelves.
Under the new self-serve approach, clients will receive the usual assessment by City Mission staff, before being allocated points based on how many people there are in the family being fed.
“The great thing about this place is it is the opposite of humiliating. It’s empowering. People can come here and make choices and that’s really important because it’s dignified. And this place gives sustenance but not just for your stomach but also for your soul.”
For example, a single adult gets 55 points to “spend” while a large family has 75 points.
The products on the shelves are colour coded to match the points. We will also be using staff and volunteers to help clients with education around food and healthy eating habits and also how to shop wisely. This is all part of our philosophy of helping people in a crisis then lifting them by arming them with new skills and confidence.
MP Duncan Webb talked about his strong connection to the City Mission right from growing up in the area and his family having to use the services when they were struggling.
“The great thing about this place is it is the opposite of humiliating. It's empowering. People can come here and make choices and that’s really important because it's dignified. And this place gives sustenance but not just for your stomach but also for your soul.”