A nationwide increase in people seeking food support has southern agencies working together to help those affected by the latest Covid-19 lockdown. Client service delivery group general manager Kay Read said while the increase in demand for food support was in line with the national trend, it encouraging to see that Southland’s increase was below the average. "Food is one of the essential costs we help people with when they are experiencing hardship," Ms Read said. "We will continue to help people access food where there are issues around affordability, through food grants and support to foodbanks and food suppliers." Southland Foodbank trustee Peter Swain said its deliveries were up between 25% to 30% since the alert level was at it highest, but this was dropping as more people returned to work.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 16, 2021 16:30 UTC