Wānaka food charity Food for Love is asking the community for support after a huge increase in demand. 

Nominations for Food For Love’s volunteer-led service - which delivers fresh, home-cooked meals to people navigating challenging times - have increased by more than 144 percent in the past two years.

“We want to continue to help everyone who is referred to Food For Love, but with nominations growing so quickly, we need help,” Food for Love general manager Jodie Stuart said.

Food for Love might receive a nomination when someone is recovering from surgery, grieving the loss of a loved one, living with dementia, struggling with the challenges of aging, recovering from an accident, and the like.

“We attribute the huge growth we have seen to a range of factors, including rapid population growth, more locals knowing who we are and what we offer, as well as a lack of other services that can support the community with meals,” Jodie said.

“Behind every nomination is a story - it could be a neighbour recovering from chemo, a mum in the NICU with her baby, a family facing sudden loss, or a loved one with mental health struggles.”

To help meet the growing need, Food For Love is asking locals for support.

“By making a donation to Food For Love, you are helping us show up for those who need it most,” Jodie said.

This June, Food For Love has added an extra incentive to get in behind their organisation, offering the chance to win a trailer load of dry firewood for donations made during the month. 

Everyone who makes a donation (no matter how big or small) will go in the draw to win a trailer load of dry firewood, with the winner set to be announced on July 1.

People can donate to Food For Love (account number: 06-0943-0840857-00) using their full name as the reference; DONATION as the particulars, and using the code FIRE.