A plea from Dunedin's foodbanks for more supplies will not go unheeded as Dunedin City Council staff step up to the plate to help restock the bare cupboards.
Other large organisations across the city are being challenged to match the council's efforts.
A group of council staff have organised a council-wide food drive, with members encouraged to donate non-perishable foods over the coming fortnight.
One of the organising staff members, senior contract supervisor Terry Taylor, said he hoped their efforts would help relieve the pressure on foodbanks leading into the holiday period.
"We read this week that all four of Dunedin's foodbanks are doing it tough. With Christmas approaching, we thought we were in a position to help, and we're happy to do our bit," Mr Taylor said.
With the council employing over 1000 people, he said he hoped their efforts would "put a real dent in the critical shortages facing Dunedin's foodbanks".
Council chief executive Sandy Graham said the food drive had been a staff led initiative and the group involved were "wonderful humans".
She challenged other large organisation across the city to match the council's efforts.
While the council's collection was set to be donated to St Vincent de Paul, all four foodbanks have agreements to share donations among their outlets.
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins backed Ms Graham's comments, and said there were people in the community who were really struggling.
"If you are fortunate enough to be in a position to help, please do so. It really will make a big difference."
The city's foodbanks - Presybyterian Support Otago, the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, and the Mosgiel Community Food Bank - met earlier this week to discuss the pressures they were facing ahead of the busy holiday period.
The city's annual Christmas can appeal has been canned due to Covid-19 restrictions, placing further strain on the already sparsely populated shelves of foodbanks.
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It's a pity DCC is not so philanthropic toward Dunedin residents. High rates, a lack of social housing and wasting money on rainbow crossings and other nonsence is one reason why many people have to resort to food banks. It is nice though to know that Mayor Hawkins and CE Graham with their bloated salaries empathise with those who are struggling. If they can't afford bread; why they can eat cake mentality abounds.
Here's an idea.....Instead of wasting funds on paint for a rainbow crossing, maybe the DCC could use our ratepayer money to buy some cans of food for those desperately hungry in this city.
That dopey $40,000 idea dreamed up by some manager to paint dots on George St would have bought a lot of spaghetti. The replacement signs on the bike trails (the mrs, the cougar etc) which caused so much offence to our mayor and manager Mr West would buy a lot of beans. The multiple ORC plan changes costing millions down the gurgler would have bought a lot of potatoes. Council managers are totally unemployable in the private sector so the ratepayer gets lumbered with them. Yay
Instead of blaming our socialist green mayor why don't we vote for a party who advocate for a more equal and just society. In our status quo the rich just get richer and the poor can't afford to eat. Fix wage increases and benefits to inflation. Make dentistry and doctors visits free. Our society pats itself on the back for being a kind team of 5 million while our most vulnerable struggle more and more to survive. Those with homes rubbing their hands together as their assets increase in value at a ridiculous rate. We should be ashamed.