Community kitchen at a crossroad

This month is set to be at least the second busiest on record for Crossroads’ community-focused food service. The central Blenheim community space and kitchen provided over 21,000 services over breakfast, lunch, dinner and takeaways throughout 2024, with this July their second largest month on record.

Trust Chairman Mark Lucas expects that, despite it being only halfway through the month, October will be greater than July and says Crossroads is feeling the pinch in both of their limiting factors - donations and volunteer hours - but he is continually proud of what the community spirit they bring together produces on the plate.

“Our patronage is going up and donations go down because people are finding it harder and harder to give - we are incredibly well supported, don’t get me wrong, but that support is wavering in the face of the need.

“We supply free meals to people that are in need, we judge no one, we don’t keep any records of people that come in.

“In this day and age, like all community groups, volunteer numbers are struggling and as the food need grows, everything must scale up.

In his big book, Mark recorded 161 services - 12 breakfasts, 41 lunches, 16 takeaways, 31 hot drinks, and 61 dinners – in just one day, with 61 dinners being the largest in “a long time”.

“Last year, we did just over 21,000 services, which is breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks or takeaway meals, with our monthly record being around 2400 services a few years ago.

“We’re proud we produce as good a meal as a restaurant with much food donated and the huge support of volunteers, just having our two part-time employees.
“Last night’s dinner was hoisin glazed ham with pineapple salsa, potato and egg salad, kumara and orange salad, steamed seasonal vegetables and dessert, then for lunch we had today, sandwiches, with ham, cheese, onion and everything.

“The board has lofty goals, starting with breakfast, lunch and dinner every weekday and frozen takeaways for weekends while we keep providing showers, washing machines, dryers, or help people sit down and be less lonely.”

However, Mark and Crossroads continually have an eye on the future, especially as they don’t see the need for their services to be reduced from their current record levels.

“We’ve had to get strategic in what we’re doing, and with the growth that we’re seeing we have to get smarter and be more efficient in what we’re doing, and importantly, be prepared for this growth.

“We can always do with more milk or eggs but we still have to pay our bills, rent, power, insurance, so cash donations when possible are invaluable to us but the motto we’ve got is, ‘if you can’t afford, that’s fine, that’s okay, we can serve people so they walk away with a full belly’.

“To be 100 percent honest, we would love the trust to go out of business - the ultimate goal would be not to be required in the community, which I don’t think is ever going to be the case, but it’s a very nice one to aim for.”