For the first time, UNICEF New Zealand is fundraising to support Kiwi children and families impacted by Covid-19.
People can donate the value of three different-sized shopping trolleys of food and supplies. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
This week UNICEF NZ and The Salvation Army are joining with Countdown hoping to reach hundreds of vulnerable families with urgent food and hygiene supplies.
Some projections estimate as many as 200,000 New Zealanders could lose their jobs during the level-four alert lockdown period, but the blow would be worse for those who were already struggling to put food on the table.
UNICEF NZ executive director Vivien Maidaborn said the outbreak "has exposed the way our system have not lifted up everybody at the same time, we have let poverty continue in NZ.
"With so many parents forced out of paid work, more children are going hungry than ever before.
"Families are struggling to provide basic essentials like food and soap."
- If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre
The appeal includes three price points people can donate: a small family trolley for $30.49, a medium family trolley for $61.12 and a large family trolley for $91.14.
Each trolley would include essential food supplies like canned goods, fruit and vegetables and hygiene supplies like soap and toothbrushes.
Countdown will pack each trolley of goods and deliver them to a local Salvation Army Foodbank Hub. The supplies will then be distributed to families in that community.
See all RNZ coverage of Covid-19
She urged New Zealanders to donate to the appeal.
The Salvation Army Assistant Territorial Secretary for Mission, Captain Gerry Walker, said they were also calling on New Zealanders in a position to help to keep food banks stocked by donating to The Foodbank Project.
Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus:
- See all RNZ Covid-19 news
- A timeline: How the coronavirus started, spread and stalled life in New Zealand
- Covid-19 symptoms: What they are and how they make you feel
- Touching your Face: Why do we do it and how to stop
- Scientific hand-washing advice to avoid infection
- Coronavirus: A glossary of terms
- The Coronavirus Podcast
