St Anne's Pantry has continued operating during Level 3 & 4 phases of the NZ Covid-19 pandemic response. The graphic above vividly illustrates how deliveries have grown especially during April. As an essential service we have delivered grocery parcels most days with many referrals coming via the Porirua Emergency Operations Centre.

​The update report below highlights how need has grown as many  recipients of food parcels have put their hand up in the light of serious income decline through the pandemic. The Pantry has experienced an unprecedented rise in financial and other support which has ensured generous deliveries of groceries to Porirua households.

Along with other Pantries/Foodbanks nationwide, St Anne's Pantry has experienced a record level of emergency food requests during Easter week 2020.

In the midst of the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown, 45 food parcels were delivered during the week beginning Wednesday before Easter to the Tuesday after. St Anne's Pantry is one of the emergency services that the Porirua Emergency Operation Centre (Welfare) is using to meet emergency need requests.

The Pantry has benefited from its ongoing relationship with Kiwi Community Assistance (KCA) who have supplied increased quantities of groceries as other supply sources reduced during the lockdown. A generous grant from the MSD has enabled the Pantry to buy groceries in short supply and ensure that food parcels were generously supplied. In addition, donors new and old have not forgotten that St Anne's Pantry provides a much needed resource in our City at this time.

To all who have supported St Anne's Pantry during this time our heartfelt thanks is offered.

We read in the Gospel of Matthew 25:40 that such support is noticed by God,

Anglicans from Titahi Bay, Ranui and Porirua East joined Māori sisters and brothers in Christ at the Rota Waitoa Church in Elsdon for an Ash Wednesday evening service. The Rota Waitoa whanau welcomed us and shared a te reo Māori liturgy with us as we worshipped accompanied on guitar by Archdeacon Reverend Tiaki in a service led by Deacon Reverend Rochelle. The Holy Communion was presided over by Reverend Kura, Porirua Anglican Priest in Charge Reverend Terry preached on our identity in Christ and Titahi Bay Priest Reverend Casey led prayers. Those present were anointed with ash and oil by the clergy in the service of imposition of ashes.
Those who attended rejoiced in the opportunity to experience a service in te reo Māori and to realise our oneness in Christ. A fine evening was sealed with traditionally generous hospitality as we drank and ate sitting at tables covered with red table cloths. 

During 2019 the Operation of St Anne's Pantry has been reviewed. The Review was prompted by the retirement of key volunteers Diane & Bob Stuart and Val Grace. The review process considered all aspects of the Pantry's operation and concluded that its continued operation is warranted, if key personnel are found and other concerns are satisfied. 

An informal meeting of Porirua Anglican Vestry members on 16 November 2019 agreed to the continuation of St Anne's Pantry on the following basis:

• Sofia Ali & Margaret Alve will, in the interim, co-facilitate the Pantry operation.
• Sofia and Margaret will liaise with the retiring Pantry Facilitators, Diane & Bob Stuart and Val Grace, with a view  to ensuring a seamless transition.
• Key Stakeholders will be advised of this decision promptly and kept regularly informed about Pantry operations.
• The Pantry Storage will be relocated.
• St Anne's congregation members and others will be recruited and trained to assist with the Pantry operation.
• Travel allowances will be offered to those who use vehicles as part of the Pantry operation.
• The Facilitators will explore further ways of integrating the operation of St Anne's Pantry with the community life of the Porirua Anglican Church.
• Porirua Anglican Parish operate a Pantry bank account (BNZ account: 02 0548 0035743 083). Please indicate name and phone number for reference if you donate finance.

We are delighted that  key volunteers have been found to operate the Pantry into 2020. May we all pray for and support Sofia and Margaret as they spearhead the Pantry operation. Also let's pray for our Porirua community: that no one will go to bed at night hungry.

The Reverend Tric Malcolm, ex Wellington City Missioner and Executive Member of the Council of Christian Social Services will join us on Sunday (21 July) as we continue our St Anne's Pantry Review. Tric will discuss current thinking about Christian and Church food ministries and help us as a congregation to  continue our Pantry Review, informedly. The Pantry review working group has met twice and discussed with current Pantry leadership how the Pantry currently works; things that work well and the challenges. One of the Pantry's assets is they make food deliveries. This helps deliverers better appreciate the circumstances of food parcel recipients. We are aware of the extensive network behind the scenes that ensures goods and money are available to resource the St Anne's Pantry delivery operation. While we are aware also of some of the other church and community food providers, we are seeking to learn more as we map the bigger picture. Is there a case for better co-operation, especially across the churches?
In today's Sunday service in St Anne's our Scripture sentence (Psalm 82:3) was,
    Be fair to the poor
    and to orphans.
    Defend the helpless
    and everyone in need.
And our Gospel reading the story of the Good Samaritan.
There is no doubt that our neighbours are not necessarily the people next door; rather the people in our community who have urgent need. There is no doubt God is calling us further into such ministry.
We continue to become aware of a number of households and families with children who appreciate food support. Recently several children came to church and shared in breakfast before the morning Sunday service. We are open to our food resource being used to these ends - even a weekly Sunday breakfast with church members collecting children and delivering them home after the service?
Please pray with us as we at St Anne's seek to be obedient to and discerning of God's call to us about this cornerstone outreach ministry.
Terry - Interim PIC

Josephine Olsen speaking at the commencement of the Oasis Community Cafe Christmas Lunch last Thursday. Trust Board member Pusa Finau offered a welcome and Mayor Mike Tana and Terry Alve added words of welcome. This 'Oasis' offers a valuable service in the East with love building healing community. Please pray for Josephine and the team as they serve in Porirua.

A wonderful Sunday afternoon and plenty of food & drink and good chat and carol singing and several children to receive gifts. Nearly 50 locals joined the gathering at Ernest Street Reserve/Park on 9th December to catch the spirit of Christmas. Thank you all, especially the St Anne's organisers, for a wonderful gathering.