Pātaka Kai (free food pantry) Fundraiser

Kia ora, we are looking for support in the funding of materials to build a Pātaka Kai at Te Kura o Te Kauaeranga, Thames South School.

The Pātaka Kai, Open Street Pantry Movement is a community led solution to food insecurity that is popping up all over the motu and (with different names) around the world. (See here for some further information about this movement here in NZ : https://www.patakai.co.nz/ )

We at Te Kura o Te Kauaeranga would like to participate in this international movement that promotes sharing and looking after each other by building a large Pātaka Kai at the entrance of the Kura.

The Pātaka Kai, is intended to facilitate the distribution of individuals' surplus kai from their gardens and homes, as well as other excess food and goods that are available from local businesses out into our local community. With an aim to increase local food security and reduce waste of kai and other valuable resources that may otherwise end up in landfill.

A benefit of the Pātaka Kai is that people can drop items off at any time and likewise others can pick up what they want when it suits them. There are no fees or forms, everything is freely given in support of each other.

There is a group of whānau who are keen to have this happen, we have met together various times and have a direct group chat going for communicating ideas and plans. We have support from the Kura Board of Trustees who have given $500 towards this project and have also lent an additional $1500 to get this going which needs to be paid back through the collection of other donations.

We have come up with a design for our Pātaka Kai and have had an experienced builder draw up plans and cost out materials for us.

We want this Pātaka Kai to be large enough to hold an abundance of kai and goods that will truly be an asset to our community. For this reason we have chosen the size 3mx3m and a style that people can walk into. It will have three walls of shelving. The front wall will have two large doors that will have see through insect proof mesh to aid visibility of what is inside as well as reduce pests like flies and other animals.

The construction will be done by a registered builder and Whānau who have all volunteered their time and skills, with the main cost being acquiring the materials to build. This has been costed out to be no more than $3000.