Latest news with #PresbyterianSupportOtago
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Octacan support ‘huge'
Winter support for those in need is in the can following yesterday's annual Octacan campaign. Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) team leader Jollene Warrington said the event in Dunedin's lower Octagon supported the Family Works foodbank, and she was delighted more than 17,500 cans had been counted so far. "And more are continuing to come in. "Our target was 18,000, so I think we're definitely going to reach that. "It's been a phenomenal, phenomenal day. King's High School student Gregor Watts, 15, displays some of the 3685 cans collected by his school for the Presbyterian Support Otago Octacan appeal, in Dunedin's lower Octagon yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY "The amount of schools, churches and community groups that have got behind this — it has been huge. "And I just think we are so privileged to live in this community. "This is my sixth Octacan event and it blows me away every year." Mrs Warrington was impressed with the support of schools — particularly King's High School, which collected 3685 cans for the appeal. "That's a super effort for one high school. "They were phenomenal, and then they came up and helped unload them at the Octacan collection point as well. "So between them and Taieri College, and a number of other high schools, they've probably helped us max out our numbers. "Each year we can rely on those guys." Family Works general manager Nicole Devereux said this winter, more than ever, people would need extra support because the cost of food and other essentials had soared, and more and more families were using foodbanks. "Kai security is becoming a significant challenge for an increasing number of whānau. "Our data for January to April this year shows that we have had a 53% increase in new clients seeking budget advice and support. "High costs of living, low wages, health issues and housing instability are just some of the factors placing increasing pressure on individuals and whānau with less support services available. "These aren't people living beyond their means — they are people whose means are no longer enough to live on." She said the Octacan campaign was Presbyterian Support Otago's major winter food drive, which aimed to help restock the Family Works foodbank with canned and non-perishable food. About 18,000 cans were needed to keep up with demand over winter until the annual Christmas appeal, she said.
Otago Daily Times
16-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Last year's Octacan effort caned
PHOTO: SUPPLIED Taieri College students stand around a New Zealand made out of cans the school collected for the annual Octacan appeal. Teacher Gerry Fuss said the school collected 3200 cans, smashing last year's effort of 2800. Just over 500 cans would go to the Mosgiel foodbank, and the remainder would go to Presbyterian Support Otago, he said.
Otago Daily Times
14-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Octacan to boost stocks for winter
The Presbyterian Support Otago Family Works Foodbank is running low on a slew of staple items, as it gears up for the vital Octacan collection day next week. The annual event, to be held next Thursday, June 19, from 7.30am to 2pm in the lower Octagon, rain or shine, will help stock up the foodbank at a time when more and more families are reaching out for support. Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) social work team leader Jollene Warrington said there had been a 16% increase in the number of people accessing the foodbank between January 1 and April 30, and 1619 food parcels had been given out. The PSO financial mentoring service had also seen a 53% increase in new clients and had supported 617 people in the first four months of this year. "Our foodbank continues to distribute between 80 to 120 food parcels each week to individuals and families in need in Dunedin. Our foodbank is Dunedin's busiest and provides a critical service for the local community," Ms Warrington said. "People are really struggling out there in the community, with the cost of living, housing insecurity and electricity price increases as the weather gets colder. "As a result, donations to the foodbank are down, and we are having to buy more foods to stock up the shelves." PSO Family Works general manager Nicole Devereux said food security was becoming a significant challenge for an increasing number of whānau. "High costs of living, low wages, health issues and housing instability are just some of the factors placing increasing pressure on individuals and whānau with less support services available," Ms Devereux said. "These aren't people living beyond their means — they are people whose means are no longer enough to live on." Octacan is PSO's major winter food drive, where the community is invited to help re-stock the Family Works foodbank by donating cans and non-perishable food. This year, PSO has the goal of collecting 18,000 cans and $10,000 in donations — this is what is needed to keep up with demand over winter until the Christmas appeal. Cash donations are also appreciated, or people can donate via the website Cash donations will make an immediate difference for people in need, and all funds donated during the appeal will be used to support local families over the winter months by providing support, advocacy and food. In addition to the central Dunedin collection, the inaugural Octacan Peninsula collection will be held next Tuesday, June 17, from 7.30am-11am at Macandrew Bay playground carpark. Bring along your coins and cans to help fill the foodbank. The event will include a sausage sizzle breakfast, with 50 available free for people donating cans to the foodbank (one per person). ITEMS MOST NEEDED • Canned Foods: Spaghetti, canned meals, meats and fish, soups, pasta sauce, tomatoes, fruit, vegetables, baked beans, baby food, pet food, creamed rice, coconut milk. At present, as it waits for the Octacan collection, the foodbank is very low on chickpeas, lentils, tuna and tinned fruit. Tear-top cans are best for people living rough or without housing. • Other ideas: Toiletry items — toilet rolls, nappies, toothpaste, soap, washing powder. Breakfast cereals, jams, snack bars.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Opinion: What looks like thrift risks exacting great cost
This year's Budget was pitched as prudent and responsible, not a lolly scramble. But from where we stand — alongside whānau struggling to stay housed, healthy and hopeful — what looks like prudence risks being profoundly costly in practice. There are some welcome commitments: health infrastructure, early childhood subsidies and disability support. But they don't come close to the scale of need we see every day across Otago. I think of a mum who came to us recently, a first-homeowner with a young baby, working hard to make ends meet. A change in circumstances and rising power prices left her unable to afford heating this winter. We helped — but changes to the Best Start payment may now force her to give up work just to survive. Our financial mentors no longer teach "budgeting". They're navigating low wages, food insecurity, mental distress and housing instability, all compounding each other. Between January and April, we saw a 53% increase in people needing support. These aren't people living beyond their means — they are people whose means are no longer enough to live on. This Budget reinstates prescription fees, narrows Best Start and halts 33 pay equity claims — decisions that hit women, children and low-income families the hardest. That's not fairness. That's retreat. Social service providers such as PSO are foundational infrastructure in our communities. But most agencies got no funding increase and the burden of doing more with less continues to grow. We need a Budget that sees people not as cost centres, but as potential. That invests in food, housing, connection and care as fiercely as it does roads and rail. Balance the books, yes, but not on the backs of the vulnerable. True stewardship means investing in dignity. ■ Robbie Moginie is chief executive of Presbyterian Support Otago.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
What looks like thrift risks exacting great cost
This year's Budget was pitched as prudent and responsible, not a lolly scramble. But from where we stand — alongside whānau struggling to stay housed, healthy and hopeful — what looks like prudence risks being profoundly costly in practice. There are some welcome commitments: health infrastructure, early childhood subsidies and disability support. But they don't come close to the scale of need we see every day across Otago. I think of a mum who came to us recently, a first-homeowner with a young baby, working hard to make ends meet. A change in circumstances and rising power prices left her unable to afford heating this winter. We helped — but changes to the Best Start payment may now force her to give up work just to survive. Our financial mentors no longer teach "budgeting". They're navigating low wages, food insecurity, mental distress and housing instability, all compounding each other. Between January and April, we saw a 53% increase in people needing support. These aren't people living beyond their means — they are people whose means are no longer enough to live on. This Budget reinstates prescription fees, narrows Best Start and halts 33 pay equity claims — decisions that hit women, children and low-income families the hardest. That's not fairness. That's retreat. Social service providers such as PSO are foundational infrastructure in our communities. But most agencies got no funding increase and the burden of doing more with less continues to grow. We need a Budget that sees people not as cost centres, but as potential. That invests in food, housing, connection and care as fiercely as it does roads and rail. Balance the books, yes, but not on the backs of the vulnerable. True stewardship means investing in dignity. ■ Robbie Moginie is chief executive of Presbyterian Support Otago.
