Our annual Gift of Groceries project in 2025 was a huge success! We were aiming to pack 600 bags of Christmas goodness and together we sponsored over 1000 bags! So good! We distributed these bags through organisations to individuals and whānau who are facing difficult circumstances. We work in collaboration with around 30 local organisations, including Oranga Tamariki, NZ Police, Plunket and Waipuna Hospice, to ensure they get to those in most need.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPONSORED, PURCHASED, PACKED & DELIVERED BAGS!

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.

Sponsor Gift of Grocery Costs

There are always extra costs around a project like this. If you would like to contribute to these costs and unexpected expenses that pop up, that would be wonderful!

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.

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