Those helped included more than 11,000 children, and 27% of people supported had never used the foodbank service before.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to meet the need and grow our teams as needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cI smash out the admin in the morning, before people arrive, and as soon as the volunteers are here, it\u2019s all go.\u201d<\/p>\n
She told the Bay of Plenty Times the foodbank could not operate without its volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not just volunteers, they\u2019re my friends, and there\u2019s just so much good with this job.\u201d<\/p>\n
The foodbank\u2019s regular roster of 75 volunteers grows to 100 before Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to give 100% every day, and need to leave your baggage at the door.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Gastmeier walks through the warehouse doors Monday through to Friday, she said her focus was strictly the foodbank.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to meet the needs of our volunteers to meet the needs of our clients. That\u2019s our whole purpose: we\u2019re here for our clients that are needing kai support.\u201d<\/p>\n
The annual Bay of Plenty Times six-week Christmas Appeal supports the Tauranga Community Foodbank, with donations heading into the festive season. <\/p>\n
The appeal has raised $1.3 million and nearly $600,000 worth of groceries for the foodbank in more than 14 years. <\/p>\n
Donations during the appeal represent anywhere from 30% to 60% of the organisation\u2019s annual donations. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see how busy everyone is, and I can just fire out jobs all day,\u201d Gastmeier said. <\/p>\n
She said there was always \u201ca lot more\u201d donations coming through at this time of year.<\/p>\n
\u201cNovember, December, it\u2019s crazy and a lot busier, but there\u2019s always the end in sight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donations received by the foodbank during the appeal represent anywhere from 30-60% of what the organisation receives annually. Photo \/ Kaitlyn Morrell<\/p>\n