Banking on people's generosity

To mark Volunteer Week, reporter JO GILBERT spends a morning at the Marlborough Community Foodbank.

Light rain dances on the corrugated iron roof of the Marlborough Community Foodbank, and a couple of buckets on the floor catch the wayward drips that filter through.

The wintry air outside is mirrored indoors; it's frigid in here, conditions that fuel your longing to be curled up at home with the fire roaring.

The four volunteers beavering away yesterday morning packing donated food and grocery goods into boxes for members of our community in need are seemingly oblivious to the chill.

They're working to have 12 parcels assembled and ready for delivery by 11am.

Fifteen Marlborough social and community organisations take care of the deliveries, on a 15-week roster. This week, it's the Seventh-Day Adventist Church's turn.

Foodbank co-ordinator David Cosgrove says that over a year, about 100 people give up their time for the bank.

They're a hard-working and generous lot, he says.

"It's bloody freezing at this time of year but no-one ever complains. No-one even stops for a cup of tea, even when I suggest it. And when they've finished a task, they find something else to do."

Volunteer Myra McHugh works at the foodbank three mornings a week, helping to keep the storeroom in order.

The former owner-operator of Blenheim City SuperValue says helping out is "no big deal".

"I love it; it gets me out among people, and when you're on your own, you just don't realise what a quiet life it is.

"Working with food is sort of my thing; it's all I've known all my working life. It's also an easy way to help those who need it, and you're giving something back for what you've got out of the community."

Myra's assembling a parcel for a Blenheim couple and their two children, but she can't give them cheese or butter, as the foodbank doesn't have any. She says it's been that way since dairy prices started soaring.

"Hopefully, this will keep the wolves from their door."

Mr Cosgrove is thankful to Marlburians for the donations. Food comes from shoppers via supermarket bins, the supermarkets themselves, farmers and backyard gardeners. A lot of it is seconds or past its official use-by date, but it's all fit for consumption.

With the recession, the number of parcels going out is on the rise. David reckons that, on average, about 40 are heading out the door each week.

- The Marlborough Express