Selwyn_Times: July 06, 2022

Selwyn Times Wednesday July 6 2022
8
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Food rescue group seeks volunteers
• By Susan Sandys
NATIONAL FOOD rescue
not-for-profit organisation New
Zealand Food Network is calling
for volunteers after moving to
Rolleston.
The network was launched
nationwide in 2020, with
funding from the Ministry of
Social Development.
It sources leftover or unwanted
fresh and healthy foods,
including fruit, vegetables and
protein, in bulk from food
producers, manufacturers and
wholesalers nationwide. It then
packages and distributes these
to foodbanks and community
food services.
The Rolleston warehouse, on
Jones Rd, is the network’s new
South Island distribution centre.
It opened in May after moving
from its previous location at Hei
Hei.
The network hosted its
first volunteering group
at the warehouse recently,
co-ordinating this with
Volunteering Canterbury during
National Volunteer Week.
Representatives from
Volunteering Canterbury,
Rolleston Rotary, and the district
council, alongside Selwyn
MP Nicola Grigg and district
councillor Sophie McInnes,
APPLES GALORE: Tonnes of apples were repacked by (from left) Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg,
district council volunteer Jane Denton, Rolleston Rotary representatives Walter and
Heather Van Der Kley, New Zealand Food Network South Island network manager Leo
Kwon, Volunteering Canterbury Selwyn outreach Lizzie Daly and district councillor Sophie
McInnes.
packaged thousands of apples.
In just under two hours, they
packed 2.5 tonnes into 140 boxes
on five pallets.
South Island network manager
Leo Kwon this had been no small
feat. He said the team had set a
benchmark for future volunteer
teams.
Kwon was looking forward
to welcoming more groups of
volunteers in coming weeks.
He encouraged organisations
wanting to give back to the
community to be in touch.
Volunteering opportunities
would be available year-round.
Donating time at the warehouse
could help with team building
and corporate responsibility, he
said.
“These volunteering
opportunities will continue
to highlight our collective
responsibility towards
food security and waste
minimisation,” Kwon said.
Heather Van Der Kley of
Rolleston Rotary was one of the
speedy apple packers.
Van Der Kley said it was
great to be able to see food, that
would otherwise be thrown
out, utilised. She applauded the
scheme for redirecting items
from landfill to where it was
needed most.
“It’s good quality produce,” she
said.
Volunteering Canterbury
Selwyn outreach Lizzie Daly
was also there. She encouraged
potential volunteers to be in
touch with the network.
•Anyone interested
in volunteering at the
warehouse can email
hello@nzfoodnetwork.org.
nz or selwynoutreach@
volcan.org.nz.
Styles may differ to images shown.
Open 10am–5pm, 7 days
409 Main South Rd, Hornby
dress-smart.co.nz