The Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust is providing $350,000 to support food relief organisations across the South Island, recognising that financial hardship often intensifies after the Christmas period.

The funding will be distributed to 31 community organisations working to address food insecurity, with a focus on supporting families and individuals through January and beyond.

The Trust’s funding comes from locally owned New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square store owners who are members of the Foodstuffs South Island co-operative, along with contributions from Foodstuffs South Island team members.

Trust chair and PAK’nSAVE Papanui owner operator Lucy Boock said the timing of the support was intentional.

She said while many organisations worked tirelessly to ensure families could enjoy Christmas, the pressure often increased once the holiday season ended.

Boock said the funding was aimed at easing that pressure and allowing community partners to continue providing food support into the new year.

One of the largest recipients, Christchurch City Mission, received $64,000. Chief executive Corinne Haines said the funding would help maintain food supplies during a period when demand remained high.

Haines said while the Mission would provide food parcels for around 1,600 people over Christmas, hardship often peaked in January when unexpected costs or income loss left families struggling to afford food.

She said the donation would help ensure support remained available when people needed it most.

On the West Coast, the Hokitika Community Trust received $6,000. Chair Nigel Ogilvie said the funding would help meet ongoing demand for food assistance after the festive season.

Ogilvie said while the Trust focused heavily on supporting the community at Christmas, everyday costs did not stop in the new year, and the funding would allow continued support well into January.

Recipient organisations will be able to access the funding in several ways, including credit at Foodstuffs South Island wholesaler Trents, local PAK’nSAVE, New World or Four Square stores, or through supermarket gift cards.

The Trust said the flexible approach was designed to ensure organisations could respond to the specific needs of their communities as demand continued beyond the holiday period.