For the past year, former youth worker Debbie Munroe, aka 'Whaea Debs', has been the driving force behind the Waka of Caring - a foodbank and community support centre in Manurewa, South Auckland.
Debbie joins volunteers at the centre for around 12 hours a day, helping provide food, clothes, bed linen, and even just a cuppa and a chat to those in need.
Debbie Munroe of United We Stand Waka of Caring homeless support group Photo: RNZ / Jessie Chiang
- Related: Debbie Munroe: 'We need a change'
Around 135 people come through the centre every day, Debbie tells Jesse Mulligan, including many who've lost their jobs and houses in the last year.
"It's not your normal beneficiaries either. It's middle-class people who have been used to working and now without jobs, they are just not coping."
Everything at the centre is free and no-one gets asked to show ID or fill out a form, Debbie says.
"You see people walking in with paperwork and I go 'no, I just need a smile'... I think our community organisations have forgotten about just helping people without ticking boxes and what-not. Sometimes you need to step outside the box to help someone and we do that here very well."
The Waka of Caring doesn't accept cash donations - they do have koha jar for onsite supplies like tea, coffee, milk, bread - but all other donations are welcome, she says.
"Tinned food, non-perishable food, blankets, clothing, toys… new world vouchers, petrol vouchers because we do a hell of a lot of running around. Whatever somebody wants to give us we would be very grateful for."
Debbie Munro recently was recently named a Kiwibank Local Hero for her community work.
