The Hoon Hay Food Bank team say they are “heartbroken, mad and gutted to the core” after thieves broke into their facility late Sunday night and stole all of their frozen and chilled food supplies, depriving more than 120 Christchurch families of essential food.
The theft happened at around 10.20pm on Sunday.
Two offenders wearing balaclavas and gloves were caught on CCTV breaking the locks on the charity’s walk-in freezer and chiller, before making off with large quantities of meat and other perishable items.
Volunteers discovered the loss Monday morning and were left in tears.
“We have no words for this. We are sitting here in tears writing this post,” the food bank team wrote on social media.
“You’re not stealing from us. You have stolen from hundreds of whānau across Christchurch.”
Photo: Hoon Hay Food Bank
The stolen food was set aside for families already booked in for support this week.
“You have completely depleted all supplies of any meat and frozen and chilled items that were going out to hundreds of whānau who genuinely need the help to put kai on the table in their homes,” the charity said.
“These are families trying to send their children to school with lunch and have a hot meal on the table to end their day. Your behaviour is beyond disgusting.”
The post said the entire operation is run by volunteers who work tirelessly to distribute food donations from local businesses and individuals to the people who need it most.
“All you had to do was send a text and book in for a food parcel if you were in need. By the amount you took, I would say this is for sale somewhere.”
With 121 families already scheduled for food parcels this week and more inquiries coming in, the theft has left the food bank scrambling. “You have taken from the mouths of every member of every one of these households.”
Adding to the distress, food held by community food banks is not insurable. “We cannot replace this,” the team said. “This is the kind-hearted generosity of our suppliers and supporters who make it possible to do what we do.”
“To those whānau booked in this week who rely on what we can pack into a food parcel, we are genuinely sorry that the items sometimes needed the most won’t be included due to these two.”
The food bank is urging residents to help. They’re asking anyone with CCTV cameras near Hoon Hay who may have captured suspicious activity or vehicle number plates to come forward.
“If you’ve seen someone with bulk food items for sale or black and green supermarket crates somewhere they shouldn’t be — please get in touch,” they said.
“All of these things, big or small, will help with police and stopping this happening again.”
A police report has been filed.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police quoting file number 250526/5179.
“We are not the first or the last food bank or community organisation to be a target, and we need this to stop,” the food bank said.
