Over 2000 volunteers gathered in Auckland on Saturday to pack 31,000 boxes of food for families in need this Christmas. This effort is part of the Christmas Box initiative, which started in 2001. Every year, thousands of food-filled boxes are delivered to families in time for Christmas.
One of the recipients of these boxes is Olivia Huang, a single mother struggling to feed herself and her 8-year-old son. She expressed her gratitude for the help she’s receiving, saying she’s amazed that strangers would extend their help to her and her son.
Each box contains around 20 food items, including both essentials and treats. Volunteer and organizer Tu Edwards encouraged the 700 volunteers in Auckland to pack each box with love, as if it were for their own family.
Rebecca So’e, a spokesperson for Christmas Box, said that poverty has worsened in New Zealand, with one in five children living with food scarcity. She explained that donating a Christmas Box not only provides a meal for a family, but also shows them that someone cares about them.
So’e called on New Zealanders to donate $40 towards a Christmas Box to help families in need. Each box can feed up to six people. She emphasized that while no one can meet this need alone, together they can bring help and hope to families this Christmas.
