Food and Financial Support — Community Networks/LINK Upper Clutha

Food parcels are available to support individuals and whānau in our community who are finding it difficult to make ends meet. They help ease the pressure of everyday living costs, even if just for a little while.

We provide up to four food parcels per person or household, and we offer flexibility so you can choose what goes into each one. The Foodbank, based at the Wānaka Community Hub, is well stocked with a wide range of canned, non-perishable, and fresh food items — including vegetables, milk, bread, and meat.a community and local businesses.

If you’d like to sign up to receive a food parcel, contact our team or pop into the Hub.
Please take note of our Opening hours below.

Opening hours:

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY - 11:00am - 3.00pm

TUESDAY LATE: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Our team can also connect you to further support.

In November 2021, the Upper Clutha’s recently formed Food Security Network launched a series of community pantries, known locally as Community Produce Stands. The intention behind the project was to ensure that people in the community had access to healthy food on a regular basis whilst reducing food waste. They were constructed by the Wānaka Community Workshop with the help of Kahu Youth during their school holiday program.

The pantries have been a huge hit with lots of delicious produce coming and going daily.

They are located across the Upper Clutha:

Wānaka

• Wānaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street

• Wānaka Recreation Centre, 41 Sir Tim Wallis Drive

• Wānaka Wastebusters, Ballantyne Road

• Grow Wānaka, Outlet Road

Albert Town

• Sherwin Avenue

Northlake

• Northlake Drive, in front of the Tennis Court.

Hāwea

• Lake Hāwea Community Centre, 28 Myra Street

• Kanuka Corner Early Childhood Centre, Francis Lane

• Sharing Shed, Hāwea Flat

• Camphill Coffee, 546 Camp Hill Road, Hāwea Flat

Luggate

• Hopkins Street

Who can use them?

Absolutely anyone! You can use the stands to share fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, herbs, jams, preserves, and baked goods. Whether it’s from your garden or the kitchen cupboard, anything you share is one less thing going to landfill – and by taking produce home, you combat food waste.

Community pantries only work if everyone gets involved so leave what you can and take what you need.

Wānaka is a beautiful place to live, but it’s not always an easy place to live.

Community Link can offer some support in the form of vouchers for those financial necessities. For more information, give us a callor pop in and see us.

• WellSouth Vouchers - to assist families with the costs of visiting their GP and prescription costs. Strictly for patients who are unable to pay, and without the voucher would not visit their GP/Practice Nurse or pharmacy.

• Wastebusters Vouchers - to assist with buying warm clothing and bedding from the Wānaka reuse shop.

• Petrol Vouchers - for one-off fuel costs where no other option is available. (Accessed through our Social Worker).

• Pool Vouchers - entry to the Wanaka Pool and recreation facilities.

The Upper Clutha Food Security Network is a collective of local organisations, individuals, and Council working together to improve food security and resilience across our region. Our shared mission is to make healthy, nutritious kai more accessible to everyone in our community, while also reducing food waste.

Each year, over 100 million kilograms of food go to landfill in Aotearoa New Zealand—around 60% of it still good to eat. At the same time, food insecurity is a growing reality for many.

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