Patoa Farms in North Canterbury has joined farmer-led charity Meat the Need, donating one pig a week to supply pork mince to the region’s food banks and community organisations.
Patoa Farms wholesale and procurement manager Jelle Edzes said the free-farmed family business is honoured to be able to donate.
“Often it is more of a blessing to be able to give than to receive a gift, and in this case we feel that way. It causes us to reflect on everything we have and be thankful,” Edzes said.
“One of Patoa’s core values is to be a blessing to its people and local community. Meat the Need fits the criteria for caring for those in need in our community and we were keen to see pork distributed alongside the other proteins Meat the Need makes available.”
Edzes said nutrition is vitally important and meat protein is essential to nutritional needs.
“By providing easy-to-prepare pork to food banks via Meat the Need, we know we can alleviate the pressures on those in our local community who need help. By providing a consistent supply of pork, we can help food banks do what they do best, and through that we can all work together to help our community thrive.”
Meat the Need and Feed Out general manager Zellara Holden expressed her excitement and gratitude for the new partnership, and the immediate effect it’s had on nourishing those who need it most with the introduction of five new food banks.
Meat the Need and Feed Out facilitate donations of meat and milk to supply to over 110 food banks and community organisations across the country with support from processors Silver Fern Farms, Miraka and Fonterra.
