(8th & 9th December)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our annual Gift of Groceries project is coming up on the 8th -9th December, 2025! We are aiming to be packing 1,000 bags of Christmas goodness and distributing them through organisations to individuals and whānau who are facing difficult circumstances. We are working in collaboration with over 50 local organisations, including Oranga Tamariki, NZ Police, Plunket and Waipuna Hospice, to ensure they get to those in most need.

We know that Christmas can be a really hard time for many people both financially and mentally, so join with us as we spread some Christmas aroha!

Two women wearing reflective safety vests, two with holiday-themed elf hats, smiling and waving in a parking lot near a gray van, one holding a brochure.
Man smiling and making a shaka hand gesture at a food drive event with volunteers in the background wearing Santa hats and black shirts.
People in uniform packing holiday food donations at a charity event.
Children wearing Santa hats packing food items into black bags during a holiday charity event.

Pick up your empty bag and shopping list from the Gift of Groceries Christmas Tree in the foyer of Curate Church on Sundays.

Or if you would like to shop for the contents of the bag first, you can grab the shopping list from here.

Note that the contents of each bag has a value of approximately $40.

Please return the bag to Curate Church by Sunday 7th December.

A young woman wearing a green and white striped shirt and a Christmas headband shopping for groceries at a store, with stacks of yellow and red products in the background.
A young man volunteer wearing glasses and a community volunteer t-shirt, standing at a table with orange bags, holding a drink, at a holiday charity event with Christmas decorations and other volunteers in the background.

Sponsor Gift of Groceries and we’ll organise for bags of groceries to be purchased and filled for you. Last day for sponsoring bags is Sunday 23 November.

ONLINE BANKING

02-0466-0418724-002
(Reference “GOG” and your name)

ONLINE PURCHASE

Donate now

CASH / EFTPOS

Bring your cash or use the Eftpos machine at Curate Church. Put your cash and / or Eftpos receipt into a giving envelope, labelled as ‘Gift of Groceries’ and place it in the giving slot by the Info Area.

A group of people gathered together indoors during a Christmas event, some wearing Santa hats and holiday-themed clothing.

8th & 9th December

There are opportunities for you to serve as we prepare all of the bags of groceries to be delivered. We’ll be checking bags, packing sponsored bags and adding the last bits and pieces on Monday 8th December.

Then on Tuesday 9th December we’ll finish packing bags and then deliver bags to pre-selected people and organisations, offering some Christmas cheer! Sign up below to let us know you’re able to help.

People working together to pack food supplies at a holiday charity event, some wearing Santa hats and holiday-themed accessories.
Group of people wearing black shirts with the words "Serve Our City" printed on the back, sorting and packing items at a community service event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I nominate someone to receive a bag?
All our bags are distributed via 33 local partner organisations, including local schools, Plunket, Women's Refuge, Merivale Community Centre, Tamaki Community Development Trust, and Curate’s Pastoral Care team, to ensure they get to the people who need them most.  To nominate someone within Curate who is experiencing difficult circumstances, please email our Pastoral Care team at pastoralcare@curatechurch.com by Friday 21st November.

Can I see a list of the Partner Organisations the bags are being distributed to?
Yes, the list for Gift of Groceries 2025 can be viewed here.

How is this project funded?
The total cost of purchasing, packing and distributing these bags is covered by donations from our Curate Church community. We rely on a volunteer team of over 200 people to make it all happen.

What's in the bags?
Gift of Groceries bags are packed full of grocery items, including pantry staples, dinner essentials, snacks, and a few Christmas treats.

Can my child(ren) volunteer to pack and deliver bags with me?
Due to health and safety reasons, children under the age of 8 years are not allowed on site during this event. No childcare is available. Children aged 8 years and above are welcome to volunteer, but must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.

Stories from Previous Gift of Groceries Deliveries

"One mother immediately fell to the ground crying when we arrived with the hampers. They are a very large whānau who are in extreme poverty, so being able to give her children this food brought the tears flowing.”
- Family Works

"Everyone was truly grateful and we definitely discovered new levels of poverty. It's good to have our hearts moved by compassion for those less fortunate, and to be able to find new ways to help bridge the gap."
- Mount Maunganui College

"I dropped off a box to a family who were under a lot of stress as Dad was in hospital. This act of kindness enabled me to have an open door to come back and visit the wife and children after Dad died a week later, to offer emotional and spiritual support."
- Waipuna Hospice

“Recently I have been going through financial hardship and have been needing to go without food myself, to have enough for my children. This will take some pressure off over the Christmas period.”
- Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support

“This year we gave Gift of Groceries bags to many people for which Christmas was a struggle, including a young woman who had been involved in a violent home situation, an elderly gentleman who lived alone, a patient who lives in their car while trying to find work, a family living in emergency housing with a terminal illness. It makes a huge difference for those who are often forgotten about in the busyness of the season.”
— Tauranga Hospital Outpatients Department