Farmers are quietly solving one of our biggest problems
OPINION: As food insecurity deepens across New Zealand, a powerful solution is quietly unfolding in our rural communities - and it starts at the farm gate.
The charity organisation's mission is to ensure no one in New Zealand goes hungry.
They do this by taking livestock donations from farmers and turning this into mince meat, which is then donated to food banks across New Zealand.
Meat the Need operations manager Sarah Gagliardi says since launching during the first lockdown in 2020, they have provided 667,000 meals of mince to families in need. Recently, the charity launched Feed Out, where donated milk is sent to food banks across Waikato and the Central Plateau.
Feed Out has seen 92,000 milk meals donated so far and will soon be taken to a national scale.
Gagliardi says Meat the Need and Feed Out has some pretty big goals.
"To help them achieve these goals, we're about to launch their very own 'Champion' programme.
"This is an opportunity for people across the country to become involved with Meat the Need, drive donations and most importantly, help fill the fridges and freezers of their local food banks.
"One Champion who finds five donations from farmers could help feed their local food bank for an entire year.
"Meat the Need is really excited about launching this programme and would love to heat from anyone who is interested in being a Champion."
Meat the Need co-founder and Golden Bay farmer Wayne Langford says the support from farmers so far has been incredible.
"We have been overwhelmed by the amount of support and donations we have received.
"Together, these contributions are making incredible differences to the lives of New Zealanders and showcases the amazing generosity of farmers," he says.
Meanwhile Fonterra farmers can now use their Farm Source dollars to three charities including Meat the Need.
This follows a suggestion by Fonterra supplier Micha Johansen who farms in Eketahuna.
Farm Source says when times are tough, it's farmer owners who dig in to support each other and their communities.
"That's what being part of a co-op is all about. Right now, many in the communities we live and work in could do with some of that help."
Farm Source says Johansen's idea was brilliant and it has now introduced Farm Source Charitable Giving where reward dollars can be donated to three charities close to the co-op, Meat the Need, New Zealand Food Network and The Rural Support Trust.
