
The New Plymouth Food Bank held their annual Food Drive on Monday 4th December with the evening collection being a great success.
The Food Drive takes place throughout New Plymouth with Collection vehicles being escorted by an emergency services vehicle (to provide noise and awareness) and a support vehicle to give collectors a ride or hold excess foodstuffs.
WR Phillips supported the Food Drive this year by providing two collection Vehicles and 5 Support Vehicles.
"It was great to be able to support the community and it was amazing to see how giving the city of New Plymouth is, the amount of Food donated was incredible." Said Paul Phillips WR Phillips Dealer Principal.
Two Volkswagens were used as collection vehicles, a Crafter and a Transporter (T6). Both are Vans and have large load spaces perfect for the needs of the Food Drive.
"Manoeuvring the T6 through tight streets was easy with the great visibility it has and the gearbox was very user-friendly, it felt more like a car than a van." Said Darrin Higginson, driver of the Volkswagen Transporter.
The Support vehicles consisted of 5 Mitsubishi's ranging from Triton Utes to an ASX and a Outlander PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle.) The vehicles were perfect for their role with the ability to fit multiple volunteers comfortably and the Triton VRX had plenty of room under it's Lockable Hard Lid to carry food that did not fit in Collection Vehicles.
There was a large amount of Food Collected which will help stock the coffers of the Food Bank for the next 12 months. The New Plymouth Food Bank is open on Monday,Wednesday and Friday to clients from 12.30-2pm. Volunteers work the rest of the week to stock shelves and pick up donations.
Those wishing to Donate non-perishable items to the Food Bank can contact Food Bank Manager Sharon Wills on 06 758 2757 or email: foodbank.np@gmail.com .
The Food Drive takes place throughout New Plymouth with Collection vehicles being escorted by an emergency services vehicle (to provide noise and awareness) and a support vehicle to give collectors a ride or hold excess foodstuffs.
WR Phillips supported the Food Drive this year by providing two collection Vehicles and 5 Support Vehicles.
"It was great to be able to support the community and it was amazing to see how giving the city of New Plymouth is, the amount of Food donated was incredible." Said Paul Phillips WR Phillips Dealer Principal.
Two Volkswagens were used as collection vehicles, a Crafter and a Transporter (T6). Both are Vans and have large load spaces perfect for the needs of the Food Drive.
"Manoeuvring the T6 through tight streets was easy with the great visibility it has and the gearbox was very user-friendly, it felt more like a car than a van." Said Darrin Higginson, driver of the Volkswagen Transporter.
The Support vehicles consisted of 5 Mitsubishi's ranging from Triton Utes to an ASX and a Outlander PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle.) The vehicles were perfect for their role with the ability to fit multiple volunteers comfortably and the Triton VRX had plenty of room under it's Lockable Hard Lid to carry food that did not fit in Collection Vehicles.
There was a large amount of Food Collected which will help stock the coffers of the Food Bank for the next 12 months. The New Plymouth Food Bank is open on Monday,Wednesday and Friday to clients from 12.30-2pm. Volunteers work the rest of the week to stock shelves and pick up donations.
Those wishing to Donate non-perishable items to the Food Bank can contact Food Bank Manager Sharon Wills on 06 758 2757 or email: foodbank.np@gmail.com .
Results of the Food Drive as seen in the Church at the end of the Collection.