For the past nine years, the Curate Church has been making a positive impact on the Tauranga community through its ‘Gift of Groceries’ initiative. This program, in partnership with hundreds of people, businesses, and organizations, provides essential groceries to families in need.
Family Works, one of the organizations involved, shares a touching story of a mother who was moved to tears when they delivered food hampers to her poverty-stricken family. Another story comes from a Waipuna Hospice team member who delivered a box to a family dealing with the hospitalization of the father. This act of kindness opened a door for the team member to offer emotional and spiritual support to the family after the father’s death.
This holiday season, Curate Church is preparing for the ninth year of the ‘Gift of Groceries’. The church is partnering with Pak’n Save Papamoa and New World Mount Maunganui to assemble and distribute 2000 boxes of groceries to families experiencing hardship. The boxes will be distributed through local organizations.
Elle Crawford from Curate Church says they are working with over 50 local organizations to ensure the groceries reach those most in need. The initiative is sponsored by Hire It, Synergy Technologies, Endless Fencing, and Kingdom Hire, and they are seeking more local businesses for sponsorship.
Due to rising food prices, the cost of each box has increased from $40 to $50. Donations are encouraged to cover the cost of the boxes. While they have enough volunteers to pack the boxes, they are still short of their financial goal and are asking the community for support.
The total cost of purchasing, packing, and distributing the boxes is covered by donations from the Curate Church community and local businesses. Over 200 volunteers, including staff from local businesses, are participating in the initiative.
The ‘Gift of Groceries’ boxes are filled with grocery items, including pantry staples, dinner essentials, snacks, and Christmas treats. They are distributed through over 50 local partner organizations to ensure they reach those who need them most.
Feedback from recipients has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the help during a difficult time. The initiative has also helped to highlight the levels of poverty in the community, inspiring further compassion and support.
As the holiday season approaches, the community is encouraged to contribute to this cause. To sponsor and for more information, visit https://curatechurch.com/giftofgroceries.
