The ongoing fallout from Covid makes the demand for Christmas food packages skyrocket



[ad_1]

As bills piled up and government support waned after Covid-19, Lisa Hayes wasn’t sure she could afford Christmas this year.

That changed when he walked into the Christchurch City Mission and received a package containing ham, pavlova, and pantry staples.

“They are a gift from heaven. It really gave us a Christmas, because otherwise we wouldn’t have had one. Especially when you have children, you feel that guilt when you can’t support them. “

The queues for food parcels in Christchurch have been so busy in recent days that a section of the highway near City Mission was closed to accommodate queuing traffic.

READ MORE:
* Green Light for Christchurch’s City Mission Annual Christmas Lunch
* Covid-19 – Auckland City Mission Big Christmas Day Lunch, Smaller Plans
* News Snacks: Bus Lanes for Main North Rd, Council Credit Rating Improves, More Food for City Mission

Hayes has custody of her two grandchildren and her two nieces also stay with her. They, along with their daughter, will spend Christmas at their home in Shirley.

Hayes receives sickness benefit and said that during the lockdown it was easy to get support from Work and Income. However, this changed as restrictions were relaxed.

“It was much more difficult to deal with them once Covid ended and I didn’t have many other options.”

Lisa Hayes picks up her food package from City Mission.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff

Lisa Hayes picks up her food package from City Mission.

The demand for holiday food packages has increased in the city this year, in part due to the social consequences of Covid-19.

Nationally, social services are saturated as people who normally would not need help seek support during the holidays.

Cars were lining up on Hereford St for Christchurch City Mission Christmas food packages on Tuesday morning.

The previous day, the queue caused traffic jams that spanned several blocks, and the city hall has since made the street one-way between Fitzgerald Ave and Barbadoes St between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Thursday.

The social impacts of Covid-19 have led to a huge increase in requests for food packages.

Joseph Johnson / Stuff

The social impacts of Covid-19 have led to a huge increase in requests for food packages.

Mark said the mission was experiencing three times the demand last year for its packages.

“In our first hour yesterday, we saw as many people as we usually see in three days.”

The packages are similar to standard meal packages, but include some “extra goodies” for Christmas, such as chicken, ham, pavlova, and ice cream.

By Monday, it had previously packed 600 packages and created another 360, but donations were still pouring in.

The social impact of Covid-19 was a common denominator for many who reached out, Mark said.

City Missionary Matthew Mark from City Mission says Monday was

Joseph Johnson / Stuff

City missionary Matthew Mark of the city mission says Monday was “frenzied” as the demand for food packages caused traffic jams.

“These are the people who are the most vulnerable to start with, who have low or lost income, or may have been doing informal or contract work that no longer exists.”

About 900 people came in the first two days, and Mark expected the demand to keep increasing every day through Christmas.

The mission will also host its annual Christmas luncheon on Friday at the Linwood Rugby Club, providing more than 1,200 meals for residents of its emergency shelters.

Foodbank Canterbury CEO John Milligan said the demographics of people seeking help has changed due to the pandemic.

“We have heard stories of families who may feel that they are doing quite well, and then Dad is fired and food becomes a problem.”

Cars circulated more freely on Tuesday thanks to a city council traffic management plan

Joseph Johnson / Stuff

Cars circulated more freely on Tuesday thanks to a city council traffic management plan

Agencies reported a large increase in demand, he said.

At this time last year it moved between 35 and 40 tons of donated products per week, but this has increased to the current amount of 90 tons.

Salvation Army Southern Division Director Vikki Stevenson said she hadn’t seen a similar increase in demand for her food packages, which she attributed to the rise in organizations offering similar services.

There are now more than 130 locations in Christchurch offering food to struggling residents, he said.

The increase in demand has been felt throughout the country.

Wellington City Missionary Murray Edridge said his organization was preparing to deliver more than 100 baskets on Christmas Eve.

Edridge said the challenge was to continue supporting individuals and families through Christmas and through 2021 as they recover from the economic impact of Covid-19.

“Everyone will be on deck on Christmas Eve with all of our staff and volunteers giving away baskets and bringing Christmas cheer to individuals and families throughout the Wellington region,” he said.

Last week, the phones on Auckland City’s mission food parcel phone lines got stuck after one of its Christmas distribution centers logged 42,000 calls in a single day.

[ad_2]