Corinne Haines, St Barnabas parishioner and City Missioner, took us on a tour of the City Mission.

The Van Outing was a bigger number than usual as we had a couple of extra carloads join us. We all enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea at the City Mission's Thrive Cafe at 269 Hereford Street. The service was fantastic, very quick, and of high quality. The cheese scones were the highlight, as were the lovely staff who work there. They are all so very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend you take a visit if you haven't already, not only is it fantastic food and service but it is highly affordable. And they have a great pay-it-forward system if you would like to pay extra for your coffee, it then can be paid forward to someone in need who may come in.

We then headed over to the new City Mission Supermarket-style self-serve foodbank, the first in the South Island.  What a fantastic setup that is.

It is part of an $11 million redevelopment completed over the past two years.
Missioner Corinne Haines said for some struggling people, shopping at big supermarkets could be intimidating.
The new foodbank - operational later this month - would run a bit like a supermarket, where clients could pick and choose items with support from staff.
Haines said it would help clients with practical skills to shop for healthy meals, with staff leading them through the process of choosing ingredients.
"I think people have been put off in the past because their parents didn't know how to shop and it was just easy to buy fast food, but also when you get to the counter and you can't afford to pay, that's a very embarrassing situation.
"Whereas here it's a points system and we can say: 'Oh, you're over, maybe you can put that one and that one back and you'll be right'."
Foodbank coordinator Steve Brinsden said it would change the way the City Mission gave out parcels.

If you want to read more about the supermarket click here:

We went across the road to where the foodbank is being run now, and the difference is huge. And once the new supermarket is open it looks like staff will get some of the car parking space back, as it is presently being run out of the basement car parking area. 

With the cost of living on the rise and large mortgage hikes, the City Mission will be in greater demand, which means their need for food and clothing will increase. 

If you would like to help in some way, you can bring in food donations to St Barnabas. A parishioner collects them on a Monday morning and delivers them to the City Mission. The rumour is that after dropping off the food, they also enjoy a very nice breakfast at the Thrive cafe afterward! 

You can also donate clothing to your local City Mission Op Shop. Corinne also said they are in need of warm blankets, sleeping bags, socks, and gloves. The City Mission truck & van will be parked in front of St Barnabas from 10am – 2pm on Saturday 8th July to receive any of the above, plus good quality furniture, clothing, shoes, linen, bric-a-brac, tools, kitchenware, plants, electrical goods etc.

And if you are downsizing or having a clean out of furniture, you can ring the City Mission to donate to them, they will even come and pick them up from you at home.

Their website has a page where you can donate as a one-off or become a regular donor.

Go to their website Citymission.org.nz 

Or to go directly to the site click here: