Winter Kai and Community Connection

Winter Kai and Community Connection

The days are beginning to lengthen slowly but surely, and there's something hopeful in that gentle shift toward spring. Even as winter holds us in its grip, we're reminded that seasons change, and so do circumstances.

Stars of the Winter Table

This time of year, celery, leeks, pumpkin and root vegetables feature in our kai distributions. These hardy winter vegetables aren't just filling — they're the foundation of hearty soups that bring comfort and nourishment when families need it most. There's something deeply satisfying about knowing these seasonal treasures are making their way into homes across our community, transforming into warming meals that sustain both body and spirit.

Protein and Plenty

Protein sources are always sought after, and we were fortunate that in June we were able to distribute a good volume of meat, fish and eggs. It's a great feeling sending this and much other healthy kai out to reach whānau. The impact goes beyond nutrition — it's about dignity, care, and ensuring no one goes without the basics that make a meal complete.Our winter distributions have been comprehensive, with milk powder and cereals rounding out the offering along with fresh fruit and bread. These aren't just groceries — they're the building blocks of family breakfasts, school lunches, and evening meals that bring people together around the table.

Community Celebration – short film

The timing couldn't have been more perfect — our film premiere coincided beautifully with both Matariki and National Volunteer Week, making it a truly meaningful celebration of community and collaboration. Going out in winter isn't always appealing, but over 20 of our volunteers and supporters joined us to view the premiere of our "two minutes of good stuff" film evening. Despite the cold, our community showed up to celebrate the mahi we do together.A huge thanks to our filmmaker for doing such a wonderful job. The short film really showcased our mahi, the volunteers and collaboration that is GKR — we even won a prize category! Seeing our work reflected back to us on screen was a powerful reminder of what we achieve when we work together, and how every small action contributes to something much larger.The alignment with Matariki's themes of reflection, connection and new beginnings, alongside the national recognition of volunteer efforts, made the evening feel especially significant.It was also really neat to see the films created for seven other local organisation, what an awesome community we have.

The Ripple Effect

As we move through these winter months, each box of kai that goes out creates ripples we may never fully see. A warm soup made from distributed vegetables, children starting their day with a proper breakfast, families gathering around meals made possible by community generosity — this is the real measure of our impact.The lengthening days remind us that even in the depths of winter, hope persists and grows. Just like our community connections,