Western Heights Weekly News

Covid19 Support:

Food Delivery

If you are sick, or can’t leave home to buy food or essential supplies, you can ask family, whānau, friends or neighbours to drop off goods and groceries for you. 

 

Talk to your support networks like family, whānau, friends, and neighbours to see if they could deliver essential items to you.

Try food delivery such as supermarket home delivery, food parcels, frozen pre-prepared meals, subscription food boxes or any other whole-food delivery service:

• For subscription food boxes go to: My Food Bag OR Hello Fresh

• For supermarket delivery go to: Countdown OR New World.

 

You can also use your supermarket’s click and collect service, and ask a local friend, family member or neighbour to drop off groceries for you.

 

Contact your local supermarket or dairy to find out if they are delivering groceries and how to order. Your supermarket may have reserved some priority slots for people who need to use online shopping.

 

Staying safe when getting food delivered

• Deliveries should be contactless and kept local.

• If you are delivering supplies, remember to stay 2 metres apart and wear a face covering.

• If you get your supplies delivered, remember to stay 2 metres away from those delivering them, wear aface covering and wash and sanitise your hands after you have put the supplies away. 

Go to: https://covid19.govt.nz/about-this-site/contact-and-support/

 

Financial Help to Buy Food

If you need financial help to buy food, Work and Income may be able to help.

Visit the Work and Income website for urgent financial support and ongoing needs.

You can apply for a main benefit online and check your eligibility for food assistance.

You can also use the COVID-19 financial support tool on the Unite Against COVID-19 website to see what support is available to you.

Go to:

• http://www.workandincome.govt.nz  (for more information)

• https://my.msd.govt.nz/   (to apply to Work and Income online)

• 0800 559 009 (MSD General Line)

• 0800 552 002 (MSD Seniors 65+)

• 0800 88 99 00 (StudyLink Students)

• http://www.Covid19.govt.nz/business-and-money/financial-support/covid-19-financial-support-tool/    (the COVID-19 Financial Support tool)

 

Foodbanks

If you need food urgently (eg if you need food in the next 24 to 48 hours), your local foodbank may be able to help.

You can find your local foodbank by searching on the Family Services Directory website:

Family Services Directory website

 

If You Can’t Get Food Delivered

If you have tried and can’t access support through any of the options above, contact your local Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.

Go to: http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/find-your-civil-defence-group/

 

Lockdown Resources for Whanau Wellbeing

https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/2021/08/lockdown-resources-for-whanau-wellbeing/

 

Time In The Line:

Check how long the wait is at your local supermarket or Covid testing station. 

Thanks to teacher Olivia Leaning for sharing this.

https://timeintheline.co.nz/

We know that despite their best efforts, thousands of Kiwis struggle to put food on the table so when Lockdown happens, it can hit hard.

 

As an essential service Visionwest operates at all Alert Levels - our emergency food response is in full swing.

 

Visionwest's Pātaka Kai (Foodbank) is operating as a contactless drive through for whānau to pick up Emergency Food Parcels on Wednesdays and Fridays from midday to 3.00pm (although days and times may change so please check our website here).

 

On the other days our support workers are delivering parcels to clients and also supplying other support services with food parcels to distribute. By working together we can reach more people in need.

 

If you need help please check out our COVID response page here.

 

If you are doing OK and in a position to help, you can make a donation to our Emergency Food appeal here. 

 

A donation of any size will help put food on the table for Kiwis who are struggling during these tough times.

 

With all the very best wishes to you and your loved ones,

The Team at Visionwest

 

PS: 

If you, or someone you know, are struggling and don't have enough food, please see the information below about Pātaka Kai or visit our website for full details. We are here to help.

 

Visionwest’s Pātaka Kai is an essential service and will continue to operate during all levels of Lockdown - please see our website for current opening hours. There will be some additional precautions to keep everyone safe – 

Details of our Procedures:

  • Come into Visionwest through the Ambler Avenue entrance.
  • Park in the car park and WAIT in your car.
  • Someone will come to your car to collect the necessary information.
  • Your food will then be placed in the boot of your car.
  • Please be patient and do NOT exit your car.

Places to Get Help

In addition to the information above, there are other places to get help – it’s OK to get help from wherever you need it. 

Helplines that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

  • Mental Health Crisis: 0800 800 717
  • Lifeline for counselling and support: 0800 543 354 or 0800 LIFELINE
  • Samaritans for confidential support for anyone who is lonely or in emotional distress: 0800 726 666
  • Depression Helpline to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions: 0800 111 757 or free text 4206
  • Healthline for advice from trained registered nurses: 0800 611 116
  • Suicide Prevention Helpline: 0508 828 865
  • Counselling Free Call or Text 1737.

Also available:

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/home-learning-tv

 

A sample from tomorrow's schedule gives an idea of what is available - purely as a supplement to what we are providing.