Services:

• Family Works Northern
• Enliven Positive Ageing Services (formerly Homecare)
• Coactive Collaborative Disability Services
• Budgeting and Money Management Service
• Older Persons Advocacy and Liaison Service
• Connecting with Parishes
• Presbyterian Opportunity Shoppe
• The Foodbank at St David's

Record demand puts pressure on foodbank, budgeting and money management  services

Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN) says its foodbank experienced record-high demand in the last two months of 2006 and their Budgeting and Money Management services have also been stretched to the maximum.

Budgeting, Money Management and Foodbank Manager Maureen Little says the record level of demand from across Greater Auckland has almost emptied the Foodbank’s shelves and put considerable pressure on staff.

“My team have been run off our feet,” she says. “I think they’d agree though, that of more concern is what this level of demand suggests is going on in the community!”

Maureen says last year was especially busy for Presbyterian Support Northern’s foodbank, with nearly 1200 food parcels distributed to families referred by PSN’s own Family Works Northern staff, Starship and Auckland City hospitals, Women’s Refuge, Family Start and other organisations.

“In November and December we hit new records for those months – and that’s left the shelves looking pretty bare now!” she says.

PSN’s Budgeting and Money Management team, who provide free financial and budgeting advice and/or a full money management service, has been similarly busy.

“Last year in Auckland we provided budgeting and financial advice to about 450 people, with almost 140 of those signing on to our money management service – which means, in consultation, we actually manage their money for them.  Combined these clients, who cared for almost 800 children between them, had debt of approximately $5.7 million, excluding mortgages,” says Maureen. “With just five staff we’re stretched to the maximum.”

Maureen says the Foodbank is lucky to receive support from various organisations including St Kentigern and St Cuthbert’s schools, Presbyterian churches, the ASB Trust and Wilcox & Co in Pukekohe, which supply sacks of potatoes and onions every week.

Likewise some funding is gratefully received from the Government for the Budgeting and Money Management service, whose clients range “from street people to ‘the Jones’”.

To find out more about how you can support Presbyterian Support Northern’s Foodbank, Budgeting and/or Money Management services please phone 09 520 8600.