Pavlova and chicken: What's on the menu at Auckland City Mission this Christmas

A stock photo of Christmas chicken and pavlova.
Photo credit: Getty Images

The Auckland City Mission is preparing to provide thousands of Kiwis with food and necessities this Christmas but COVID-19 has changed things slightly. 

CEO Chris Farrelly told Magic Talk's Mitch McCann instead of having a big lunch like they normally do, they will have five smaller ones to keep everyone safe. 

"[With] the Christmas lunch... We looked at it very carefully this year and thought we can't bring 2000 people into the cloud given the COVID environment and yet we wanted to have lunch.

"We are thinking of the wellbeing of the vulnerable people who would be coming so we are having five smaller versions on different sites so it's more contained. It is sad to see the big lunch go but hopefully, it will be back next year."

To make sure no one misses out, Farrelly said every food parcel will also have ingredients for a full Christmas lunch.  

"Over the last week and this coming week, we have over 8000 families coming through for Christmas food. This year we are adding a full Christmas lunch to every food package so people will also have frozen chicken and vegetables and pavlova and cream and everything else to be able to take and do their own lunch at home as well."

He said COVID-19 had seen the number of people seeking help double but thankfully support has also increased. 

"The demand tripled during the early period (of the pandemic) and then settled down to pretty much double. 

"So all year we have been seeing this huge need that wasn't there before. People who have never ever, ever had to put up their hand for help are having to this Christmas. However...at the same time that people ask [for help], other people also give to us." 

How best to offer support this Christmas

To support the Auckland City Mission, you can make a donation or register to collect food and gifts. More information on how to do that can be found here.