“It means a lot to me, really, because it’s more than a job.”
Tauranga Community Foodbank has three employed staff and more than 75 regular volunteers.
Gastmeier said the warehouse manager role required real dedication.
“I would only want to do a job that helps the greater good, and we’re slowly chipping away at creating a stronger food-secure community.”
She said she had watched the charity get “busier and busier”, growing in size and gaining more community support.
“We’re just so many moving parts, it keeps getting better and better – except for the fact that we’re getting busier with people in need.”
In the past year, Tauranga Community Foodbank has supported 23,618 people and distributed 9520 kai packages.
Those helped included more than 11,000 children, and 27% of people supported had never used the foodbank service before.
Gastmeier manages volunteers, the warehouse, the supply chain of what comes into the foodbank, what goes out, sources food, directs donations, outgoing deliveries and more. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
“We continue to meet the need and grow our teams as needed.”
Gastmeier has spent close to five years managing volunteers, the warehouse, the supply chain of what comes into the foodbank, what goes out, sourcing food, directing donations, outgoing deliveries, and more.
“I smash out the admin in the morning, before people arrive, and as soon as the volunteers are here, it’s all go.”
She told the Bay of Plenty Times the foodbank could not operate without its volunteers.
“They’re not just volunteers, they’re my friends, and there’s just so much good with this job.”
The foodbank’s regular roster of 75 volunteers grows to 100 before Christmas.
“You have to give 100% every day, and need to leave your baggage at the door.”
When Gastmeier walks through the warehouse doors Monday through to Friday, she said her focus was strictly the foodbank.
“I need to meet the needs of our volunteers to meet the needs of our clients. That’s our whole purpose: we’re here for our clients that are needing kai support.”
The annual Bay of Plenty Times six-week Christmas Appeal supports the Tauranga Community Foodbank, with donations heading into the festive season.
The appeal has raised $1.3 million and nearly $600,000 worth of groceries for the foodbank in more than 14 years.
Donations during the appeal represent anywhere from 30% to 60% of the organisation’s annual donations.
“You can see how busy everyone is, and I can just fire out jobs all day,” Gastmeier said.
She said there was always “a lot more” donations coming through at this time of year.
“November, December, it’s crazy and a lot busier, but there’s always the end in sight.”
Donations received by the foodbank during the appeal represent anywhere from 30-60% of what the organisation receives annually. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Last year’s appeal saw a record-breaking $316,904.17 in donations – $220,586 in cash and $96,318 worth of food from 32,106 items.
“We just love the energy to help the community, to look out for others that are having a hard time and provide them with a bit of special kai.”
Gastmeier said the foodbank asked for items it couldn’t afford, and donations received so far were creating security to help into the new year.
“We’re not just meeting a need in the community, but we’re building community.”
The last official donation day for the Christmas Appeal is December 24.
Cash donations were also welcome.
CerealsSpreadsTinned fishMuesli barsCocoa and icing sugarCoffee and drinking chocolateDeodorantChristmas treatsOther items are also welcome, as long as they are not expired, opened or damaged.
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.