Critical social need met by redeployed council staff
Making meals for the Auckland City Mission
Auckland Council’s catering staff have been redeployed to provide 400 meals a day, seven days a week, to support Auckland’s rough sleeper community and those facing severe financial hardship.
Mayor Phil Goff says that around 20 council staff will work in rotation to provide Auckland City Mission with the meals while the city is in lockdown.
“With staff working from home, the council’s cafeterias are closed and it makes sense for our staff to use their skills to help meet a desperate social need in the city.
“The lockdown period is hard for everyone but for our most vulnerable people sleeping rough on the streets and those who can’t afford to feed their kids, the present situation makes things much worse.
“Auckland City Mission has had to redeploy some of its own staff and came to us for help. Council’s catering staff were keen to help in an area of real need and enthusiastic about using the time they had had freed up to assist the community.
Meals are prepared at Auckland Council facilities and delivered to Auckland City Mission for distribution.
“To get through the difficult time, it’s really important that we reach out and help each other and I’m proud that our staff are doing this,” Phil Goff said.