16 Jun 2025

Dissapointment and grief as food rescue service set to close

From Checkpoint, 5:45 pm on 16 June 2025

There is disappointment and grief that a food rescue service and community hub in Wellington is set to close after 15 years. The Free Store redistributes surplus food from more than 60 eateries free to those in need, saying last year alone it rescued 42,000 kilograms of food. But for many, it's the sense of kinship and community the store has created that makes it really special, with one of its volunteers even offering to walk the length of the country to save it. Maisie Arnold-Barron reports.