Editorial: Spare a thought, and food for needy

Many of us are already planning our Christmas lunch menus.

And there are some hard decisions to be made.

Ham or turkey? Or even a barbecue perhaps? And what about drinks? A nice bottle of Marlborough sauvignon blanc? What about some bubbles?

Decisions, decisions.

Spare a thought then, for those who won't be able to make these decisions. There are some families in Marlborough who don't have the opportunity to choose what they eat on Christmas day. Or most other days, for that matter.

Marlborough Community Foodbank has seen a 90 per cent increase in the number of food parcels it hands out, with more than 1500 delivered this year. Last year 890 parcels were delivered and in 2007 that number was 607.

Job lay-offs, a low wage structure, rising food prices and the ever-increasing costs of daily living are some of the reasons behind increasing demands on the foodbank.

Marlburians will have the opportunity tonight to help swell the foodbank's stocks when the More FM Foodbank Street Appeal rolls through the streets of Blenheim.

Teams of volunteers, including staff members from The Marlborough Express, will be taking to the streets tonight collecting food (or money) from residents.

Tonight's appeal is just another example of the community getting involved in helping less fortunate members.

Marlborough has hundreds of volunteers who give freely of their time and resources to help out at the many volunteer organisations in the region.

Volunteers range from professionals, who want to contribute their skills and expertise, to teenagers wanting to do something meaningful with their spare time and retirees with a passion to change lives. There are also a large number of families who regularly volunteer at events and activities throughout the year.

Volunteers all over the world were recognised on Saturday with International Volunteer Day. The day was first instigated by the United Nations in 1985, and is now celebrated by 125 countries.

International Volunteer Day is a good reminder of what people do for nothing and an opportunity to say thank you to those who help others without expecting anything in return.

Some voluntary organisations choose to present certificates or awards to loyal volunteers, while others host special morning teas to show their appreciation. The ways of celebrating International Volunteer Day and acknowledging the hard work of volunteers are as varied as the volunteers themselves.

Which brings us back to the volunteers who will be out on the streets of Blenheim tonight.

Hopefully when you hear the siren in your neighbourhood tonight you will be as generous as those who are out collecting on behalf of the less fortunate in our community.

- The Marlborough Express