Meat the Need became a nationwide charity after being successfully piloted in Christchurch amid the covid-19 crisis.
The charity, created by YOLO Farmer Wayne Langford and Siobhan O’Malley of Pukeko Pastures, enables farmers to help feed Kiwi families in need by providing the means for them to donate livestock through its charitable supply chain.
Langford says the high level of support from the farming community, alongside the support from meat processor Silver Fern Farms (SFF), has been key to the charity’s success.
“Many New Zealanders have needed a hand-up this past year and farmers have really stepped up to the plate in giving generously to Meat the Need,” Langford said.
“Silver Fern Farms has also played a key role in promoting this with their network of farmers, processing the livestock and facilitating the distribution of the meat.
“With their support, our supply chain is going from strength to strength.”
As a Meat the Need founding partner, SFF is pleased to celebrate the charity’s first anniversary.
The milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on Meet the Need’s success to date in delivering over 410,000 nutritious red meat meals to foodbanks across NZ in the first year.
The ambitious goal for its second year is to double that figure and deliver close to one million meals.
Following the Christchurch pilot, Meat the Need scaled-up rapidly in its first year and now supplies high-quality natural beef mince to more than 50 foodbanks across the country.
SFF plays a pivotal role in the supply chain by processing the livestock to create high-quality natural beef mince.
The meat processor also facilitates the delivery of the end-product to foodbanks.
Group marketing manager Nicola Johnston says the company’s support of the charity was inspired by farmers who were actively looking for ways to give back to their communities.
“Silver Fern farmers produce some of the best red meat in the world, which is something they believe all New Zealanders should benefit from,” Johnston said.
“As key players in our food-producing nation, they are passionate about helping the efforts to ensure no Kiwi goes hungry.”
Meat the Need is one initiative in SFF’s wider Sustainable Chain of Care programme that is committed to making a difference by investing in local communities, sustainability, and the environment.
Farmers who supply livestock to SFF can donate the value for an agreed number of livestock into the Meat the Need charity fund through a simple booking process.
Other farmers and the public can also support the Meat the Need charity by making donations via its website – MeattheNeed.org
