As the country continues to grapple with Covid-19 in the community, many New Zealanders are facing a tougher time in the lead up to Christmas this year.
With the pandemic comes knock-on effects like food insecurity, and this is a struggle that many families in our communities are facing at the moment.
PAK'nSAVE is making it easy for shoppers wanting to help their communities with the return of the PAK'canSAVE foodbank appeal, running until Sunday 14 November.
PAK'nSAVE shoppers who are in a position to help can simply buy an extra can or two when completing their weekly shop, drop it into the designated in-store trolley and the store will ensure it goes to a Kiwi family in need.
"PAK'canSAVE is a great way to get involved and donate something somebody in your community needs," says Mark Elkington, owner operator of PAK'nSAVE Blenheim.
"When we all donate a can of baked beans, for example, there's only one thing that can happen with it: It'll get opened and eaten by someone who needs it."
In July, the supermarket brand launched its first PAK'canSAVE initiative, with the generosity of customers contributing to a donation total of more than 40,000 cans that went to New Zealanders going through a tough time.
This time, PAK'nSAVE is trying to do even better with a goal of 10 can-filled trollies per store in Aotearoa. On top of customers' generous donations, PAK'nSAVE will also donate $100,000 to the foodbank organisations across the country.
PAK'nSAVE Blenheim received over 1500 cans in the July campaign, all of which were donated to Marlborough Foodbank - but this time they have their sights set on an even larger goal.
"Last time we filled 16 trollies - we were ranked third in the country and second in the South Island, in terms of the number of donations collected in stores. PAK'nSAVE Hornby was the number one store in the South Island, so our goal is to beat them this time - and I'll be letting them know if we do!" says Elkington.
"There's definitely some healthy competition between the PAK'nSAVE stores. But food insecurity is a huge issue for so many people. I think we all want to do our part and PAK'canSAVE is a great way to reach those people that need that help."
He adds that having the trollies in store means customers can see how full they're getting over the two-week appeal, and is a way to show the difference they are making.
This PAK'canSAVE campaign is happening at a crucial time because while Christmas is the most wonderful time of year for many, it can also be the toughest time of year for people in our community who are struggling with food insecurity.
The unabating pandemic has made things even tougher than usual for those in need and has placed extra pressure on foodbanks around New Zealand.
"PAK'canSAVE is a great initiative and we were thrilled to be a recipient of the first ever campaign earlier this year. The can donations went directly to people in our community who are having a hard time," said Wynnie Cosgrove, Manager at Marlborough Foodbank.
"It's wonderful that PAK'nSAVE Blenheim is partnering with us again this time around, as COVID-19 has really exacerbated the issue of food insecurity in the Marlborough region. The generous donations from PAK'nSAVE and their shoppers will make a difference for New Zealanders who are struggling right now."
PAK'canSAVE is part of PAK'nSAVE and Foodstuffs' promise to be #HereforNZ and support everyone in New Zealand to have access to healthy and affordable food. Each PAK'nSAVE store is partnered with a local City Mission, foodbank or food rescue organisation, which means they each build great relationships with these groups.
"We have an excellent relationship with the Marlborough Foodbank," says Elkington.
"We've just got huge admiration and respect for their volunteers, the time and effort they put in and what they do in our community."
Indeed, foodbank volunteers put in a huge amount of effort to help out people in need. But the idea of PAK'canSAVE is that anyone can help to make a difference too, by lending a hand, donating a can and helping feed a Kiwi family.
"It's taking away the barriers for the people that do want to help, making it so much easier to just spend an extra dollar with your grocery shopping, pop in a couple of extra cans and then we do the rest - and match it as well. It just makes it so easy," says Elkington.
"Get involved. Get into it, it's easy, it's only an extra dollar on top of your grocery shopping and you can make a difference."
This article was created for PAK'nSAVE.
