We're on a mission to raise $66,666 for 14 food rescue organisations around the country who are each supporting their communities and providing food to those in need, responding to increased demand during the current Delta outbreak.
For every gift voucher purchased from HELL from Wednesday, 21 September, we will match the same amount and donate it to one of our Food Rescue friends.
Food Rescue groups link the food industry with community groups that support people in need, ensuring that quality surplus food reaches those struggling - benefiting both the community and the environment.
In Aotearoa, we generate over 150,000 tonnes of food waste per year and around 60% of this is edible! That's enough to feed the entire population of Dunedin for a whole year. Not only does this needlessly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, it also squanders the resources used to produce and transport that food. It's also a shocking statistic when 40% of Kiwi's experience low food security and 305,000 Kiwi children live in poverty. Having Food Rescue organisations that deliver food to people in need, help with solving these core issues.
Matt Dagger, General Manager of Kaibosh Food Rescue, says they provided 25,322 kilos of food to 59 different groups, equating to almost 72,500 meals in the first fortnight of last month's Lockdown. He says under Lockdowns, food rescues have become a major food source for communities across the country.
"For people who are already doing it tough, it becomes tougher during Lockdown. People lose access to their normal weekly paychecks or sources of income. In many areas, their traditional sources of food and distribution networks also become disrupted, so this is where food rescue groups step in and fill the gaps, where they can," says Matt.
The money raised through this campaign will cover additional costs the 14 organisations have incurred during lockdown, especially with demand increasing.
"We have a wide range of operational expenses getting surplus food from our sources - producers, retailers, supermarkets - out to the communities we support. These funds will cover additional operating costs; many have had to increase their level of service to meet both supply and demand and also to cover wages when their usual teams have been sent home as a part of social distancing," says Matt.
Here at HELL, we were inspired to help the food rescue network after seeing Kaibosh's work firsthand.
"On a recent tour of Kaibosh, seeing and hearing what they do opened our eyes to problems with the food industry in New Zealand. With the additional stress COVID-19 has placed on them, we wanted to raise funds to support their work and educate NZ on the issues our communities also face", says Ben Cumming, CEO of HELL.
The following Food Rescues are participating in the campaign and will receive funds based on the total number of vouchers purchased at the closest HELL Pizza store.
The Hub, Te Puke
KCA, Porirua
Nourished for Nil, Hastings
Good Neighbour Tauranga
Halo, Taupo/Tokoroa/Levin
The Free Store, Wellington
Just Zilch, Palmerston North
Kaibosh, Wellington/Hutt Valley/ Kapiti Horowhenua
Fair Food, West Auckland
Rotorua Whakaora, Rotorua
Go Eco/Kaivolution Hamilton
Love Soup Whangaparoa
Food Rescue Northland Northland
Nelson Environment Centre Nelson
Foodbank Aoteoroa Christchurch
If you'd like to get involved and help our mission, you can purchase a HELL gift voucher here.