Fresh Food for All from Foodtogether
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MARCH 2008 AUGUST 2015 FreshFresh foodfood forfor allall fromfrom foodtogetherfoodtogether Volunteers, churches and not-for-profits support foodtogether By Hilaire Campbell dependency,” Craig says. something new each time. People say they Foodtogether has eight packing hubs like the challenge of that. ith a Little Help from My and 50 distribution centres in Canterbury, Recipes are on Facebook and Friends is a Beatles song and recently it expanded into Wellington foodtogether supplies a quarterly recipe but it is also the slogan for and Auckland. collection produced by the Canterbury foodtogether, a nationwide The program couldn't operate without District Health Board (CDHB). collective that provides support from not-for-profit trusts, churches Until the end of 2011 many packing Waffordable fresh produce to people in and incorporated societies. hubs operated independently but most have need. Nor could it do without its 300 now signed up with the foodtogether brand. Rev Craig Dixon is the development volunteers. They come from all walks of In its first year of operation Craig says that manager for foodtogether. Craig has always life, including the residential drug 700 orders were placed in Canterbury. valued healthy eating, and while training rehabilitation centre Salisbury Street “Now we're getting 3000 a week, which at St John's Theological College started a Foundation. Other people are referred from is very exciting. It is certainly more than vegetable co-op for the student community. Rev Craig Dixon says the social value of the courts. we anticipated.” foodtogether is immense. This was so successful that when he At Beulah Church on a wintry One major drawback has been that line? Even average two income families became vicar of the Anglican Parish of Christchurch morning volunteers are foodtogether has to buy outside are often hard up.” Bryndwr in Christchurch nearly 25 years rugged up against the cold but the Christchurch as land has been taken over Craig's work is driven by his Christian ago, he revived the idea. atmosphere is warm. Craig is among them, for other purposes. “This has a negative faith and responsibility for helping others “I was in an area with a need around helping the Sallies load their van and impact on community life,” says Craig. live more fully. the affordability of fresh food. Fast food ensuring that everyone's happy. After the earthquakes many of those The proof is in the eating. Surveys outlets were becoming popular and I People are buying vegetables for worst hit in Christchurch came from poorer show that with the program people have wanted to do something to counter that.” friends, parents and grandchildren. One socio economic areas of the city. markedly increased their intake of fresh Craig says the social value of programs lady who is all of 80 is buying for “Supermarkets were down and out,” says food - by as much as a third in Wellington. like foodtogether is immense. “In Bryndwr neighbours who are “too old to get out”. Craig,” People had nowhere to turn.” Regional public health officials say they've it became part of parish life and community She's got bananas (the only imported Working with nutritionists and others never seen such a dramatic improvement. development.” produce in the parcel), golden kiwi, from the community and public health arm Foodtogether brings people closer and The idea of foodtogether is a hand up mandarins, cucumbers, carrots, and the of the CDHB he helped establish six new fosters community spirit. “As a minister rather than a handout. A $12 bag feeds a fashionable kale. packing hubs, some in these areas. I've always been keen on community family of four for a good part of the week. “All the produce is fresh and high Foodtogether sees itself working development and walking outside the gates “People feel better when they can pay quality,” says Craig. alongside rather than replacing other of the church,” says Craig. something and it keeps them out of MG Marketing supplies all providers of fresh fruit and vegetables. It To join up or get support to start your foodtogether produce and individual attracts a mix of people. There are no own packing hub visit packing hubs purchase according to need. criteria, says Craig. www.foodtogether.kiwi or contact INSIDE They buy what is in season and try to add “If there was, how could we draw a [email protected]. KING TUPOU VI CORONATION SOUTH SUDAN CIVIL WAR – PAGES 3 & 20 – PAGE 12 COMMUNITY RADIO – PAGE 11 2 TOUCHSTONE • AUGUST 2015 NEWS Anglicans and Methodists range over common ground By Cory Miller Social cohesiveness in this Inter-church and inter- case means the deeper links faith dialogue, the history of within the life of the churches. ecumenism, and trends in There is real spiritual hunger the global church were some in society for a sense of of the topics Anglican and community and togetherness. Methodist students explored “People are searching for at last month's bi-annual ways to reconnect.” winter school. Steven says achieving this This year's winter school social cohesiveness can be Tumuaki Rev Diana Tana leads the communion service at CCA on ecumenism was organised Robert Gribben difficult in a world that is very General Assembly in Jakarta. by ecumenical partners from individualistic and driven by the Auckland, Catholic and self-interest. Kiwis make impact Methodist churches. It was “These things represent a titled 'Towards a Common great challenge because the Vision' and it brought experts churches are to a great extent at CCA Assembly and students for six days of influenced by the surrounding New Zealand churches have targets poor women and children and lectures at St John's College culture.” in Meadowbank. reinforced their links with the wider others who are uneducated or stateless. While it is a challenge to Touchstone spoke to two Church in Asia after a sizeable Human trafficking generates overcome these influences, it delegation, including a large group of of the guest lecturers about is not insurmountable. approximately US$150 billion per year what they see are today's Methodists, attended the Christian and the Church can play a role in ending Steven Pickard The ecumenical Conference of Asia's 14th General major ecumenical issues. movement can meet this need its financial profitability. One way to break down Assembly in May. Forced migration of workers because Rev Robert Gribben to be connected and therefore From the Methodist Church of NZ's Robert is professor of the barriers between the two it is important for churches of global inequalities is closely related denominations would be the perspective a major outcome of the to human trafficking. People from poor worship and mission at to take the time to learn about Assembly is that Te Taha Maori tumuaki United Theological Hall, appointment of a Methodist each other and the different countries often take 'dirty, dangerous bishop. Rev Diana Tana was selected to serve and demeaning' jobs that others won't Melbourne. gifts they can bring. as the CCA's vice moderator for the next He says some great “If the Methodists could “Over many, many do and they are often exploited. find it within themselves to five years. Global inequalities also push people progress has been made in decades ecumenism has been Diana will serve with the new relations between the imagine that they might have a great voice that speaks to in Asian countries such as India and such a thing it would be an moderator Archbishop William Thailand to carry babies as surrogate Anglican and Methodist those deep human needs for Simarmata from Indonesia and general churches in recent years with easier matter for the being connected together. mothers or donate organs. Anglicans to recognise them secretary Dr Mathews Chunakara from Violence against women, young initiatives such as New Ecumenism is the effort to India. Zealand's Methodist- as the same kind of church,” bring people to the table, to people and gender minorities is another he says. CCA embraces churches from grave concern as is the high number of Anglican covenant. find our common life in God The Methodist Churches together and see what we can Aotearoa in the east to Iran in the west refugees and displaced people in Asia. “Originally the Methodist in New Zealand, Australia, do together…which is almost and the Assembly gathered under the Specific cases the CCA focused on Church was a spiritual the Pacific and Britain are much more than we can think theme 'Living Together in the Household included the Nepal earthquakes, tensions movement within the Church unique in not having bishops and imagine.” of God'. between North and South Korea, ethnic of England,” he says. “We've The Assembly opened with a whereas in other countries Steven says the churches violence against minorities in Myanmar, gone our separate ways and colourful worship service that featured become separate there are Methodist bishops. have a lot of rich spiritual music and dance of many cultures. The and discrimination against Papuans in Robert says the role of a resources at their disposal that Indonesia. denominations but we have liturgy celebrated the 58 years of CCA very much in common.” bishop is spiritual oversight can be used to respond to the and a drama expressed the difficulties Prince says prior to the full Assembly of congregations in a way that needs of today's world. an extraordinary assembly was held, Ideally, he says, the two faced by many Asians. churches should one day exist is more effective than a The challenge is for the NZ Methodist Mission & Ecumenical which voted overwhelmingly to adopt a committee-based church. church to keep looking new constitution for the CCA.