Choosing kai

Across the motu, Salvation Army foodbanks are expanding their food response to offer new food-based wrap-arounds alongside traditional food parcels. These new food supports are strengths-based and help build knowledge, skills, access and connection, empowering whānau to move from dependence to a place of greater resilience, sovereignty and security. 

We’ve defined seven areas of food security support that Salvation Army Community Ministries can offer. These are

  • Choosing kai
  • Cooking kai
  • Growing kai
  • Sharing kai
  • Buying kai
  • Connecting with kai
  • Partnering around kai

Because food insecurity is different in every community, our foodbanks are empowered to adopt the food security initiatives that best meet the unique needs of their community and match their own resources. This flexible approach helps target our resources to best effect and provides a great opportunity for partnering with other community organisations. From Kaitaia to Invercargill you’ll see different expressions of food security at Salvation Army foodbanks. In this video you can see how our Whangarei team is helping strengthen food security for whānau and their community..

You can help our Community Ministries  implement or expand food security programmes in their Community by making a donation through their landing page. 

  • Repurposing our foodbanks to offer choice, dignity and agency
  • LInk to Upper Hutt Choice Model video

One of the most common changes you will see at Salvation Army foodbanks is the move to social supermarkets which empower whānau to choose the food items they receive. Rather than receiving a pre-packed parcel, clients can ‘shop’ in the foodbank alongside a Salvation Army wellbeing worker, to select the items they need and want selecting from all the food groups including fruit, vege, meat and dairy as well as hygiene products. As well as providing agency and dignity, the new process provides easy connection, allowing relationships to grow quickly. Budgeting and planning is a key part of the new approach, as is education with meal kits and recipes. Foodbanks that allow choice also minimise waste because everything that is chosen is wanted.