Communities Feeding Communities

Written By Guest User

Transforming Land into a Community Hub

Communities Feeding Communities is an initiative of Presbyterian Support Northern in Puketāpapa/Mt Roskill, Auckland. It aims to support and nurture the strengths of the local community, particularly through the lens of food security.

Established in 2021 on the site of the former St Giles Presbyterian Church at 1207 Dominion Rd, the land surrounding the buildings has gradually been transformed so that there is now a community garden, allotment gardens, a micro-food forest, children’s play area, composting systems and a pizza oven.

The land and buildings at 1207 Dominion Rd are owned by Northern Presbytery who have appointed the Rev Fa’amanu Akeripa to establish a new faith community, called The StoreHouse on the site. 

 

Before and after: front of site

Before and after: back of site

 

Victoria Hall: A Space for Belonging and Support

Victoria Hall (April 2024)

A relocated building, Victoria Hall, was moved onto the site in 2021, sitting alongside the existing St Giles building which originally homed CFC. Victoria Hall has been extensively renovated and now houses offices, a meeting hall/worship space, urban living room, a community kitchen and a social food pantry. Outside there is a pātaka kai, a pizza oven and a number of outdoor sitting areas.

““Victoria Hall [allows] us to provide budgeting support and deepen our relationships with the community and find creative ways to help people on their journey.  We can host workshops, special events, and work with different community groups to help foster local well-being and food security.””
— Anne Overton, PSN Community Relationship Manager
 

A Kai Space That Nourishes

CFC’s kai space is open to the public two days a week and currently provides 80-90 food parcels a week. Food parcels are available to people living in the local area and social workers from PSN and other agencies. A budgeting mentor from PSN is on-site each week to support people with their financial struggles. Fresh produce from the community garden or from rescued food is provided in food parcels and on a weekly basis to the local primary school which also receives daily delivery of bread from CFC for their pātaka kai. The kai space model is currently being moved to a ‘choice model’, so that instead of people being handed a box of food, they can choose what they need for their family and context.

 

Growing Food and Cooking Together

The community kitchen is well-equipped for cooking classes which cater for 8 people per four-week cooking class. Attendees take part in creating a delicious, nutritious and low-cost meal each week which uses ingredients from the food pantry and the community garden. After enjoying eating the food together they are given the recipe and the ingredients to take home in order to re-create the meal in their own home.

 

Looking Ahead: Advocacy and Empowerment

Rescued food and produce form the garden are used to make meals in the community kitchen which are then included in food parcels. CFC has a commitment to zero-waste and is continuing to learn about how to fulfil this commitment through composting and minimising waste.

Advocacy training is going to be a focus for this year at CFC, with workshops planned to help people learn how best to interact with government departments and regional councils, understand rights and entitlements and advocate for others.

 

Powered by Volunteers and Generous Support

The development of the site at 1207 Dominion Rd, where CFC is located, could not have happened without significant support from volunteers and donations from our many supporters. Saint Kentigern Schools, St Cuthbert’s College and Dilworth School have all given generous support in many and varied ways.

Resources - from the CFC team:

Key contact: Anne Overton, Community Relationship Manager, Presbyterian Support Northern. anne.overton@psn.org.nz

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