Auckland Foundation COVID-19 Community Response Fund

"The greatest need we see in our community is our Foodbank Collective, counselling and family support."

"We’ve already noticed a shift in some or our referrals – for example families seeking support with family dynamics where teenage boys present with violent outbursts at home during lockdown."

"These funds will make such a difference and it will enable us to continue to support our community in this trying time."

Nelene de Beer, Helensville Women & Family Centre

We all recognise there are still considerable challenges ahead for Tāmaki Makaurau and our communities as we recover and rebuild post-Covid.

Many charities and service providers, who do vital work supporting our most vulnerable, continue to face huge uncertainty.

As your community foundation, our vision is a future where every Tāmaki Makaurau community is strong and thriving.

With the help and generosity of Aucklanders who want to and can give back, our Covid-19 Community Response Fund will ensure that the gaps in community need are identified, prioritised and supported through financial grants.

Our first grants have focused on the immediate short term, prioritising the health and wellbeing of those who have been most adversely affected as a result of the lockdown.

This included:

Those whose mental health and wellbeing are vulnerable as a result of social isolation, particularly elderly living alone, the homeless, and at-risk women.
Those who are at risk of violence in the home and do not have a safe place to self-isolate if need be.
Those who are unable to or face difficulties getting food/essential supplies.

While we are incredibly fortunate to be moving back to Level 1, there are still significant long-term challenges for us all. We will continue to talk to our community partners, and look at how we can help our communities to recover, build resilience, and continue to be connected in the months ahead.

If you're able to support our community, please make a donation. 100% of your gift will go towards supporting those in need during these incredibly challenging times.

Donate now

“The need is great, the demand is difficult to manage."

"A gesture of this nature gives such a lift to our hard working team and they feel that their hard work and dedication is truly appreciated by more than just those who receive the direct support.”

Gaelle Deighton, RaWiri Residents Association

"Thanks to the grant we received through Auckland Foundation, our Women’s Support Services Co-ordinator Ellie has been able to continue supporting women."

Leonie Morris, Auckland Women's Centre

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the following community service providers have been helped so far:

Lifewise

Funding for frontline staff and volunteers working with a range of vulnerable people, including the chronically homeless, at-risk and marginalised youth, and older people and those living with a disability.

Auckland Women’s Centre

Funding for their crisis line to ensure women and children can access extra support and advice, including crisis intervention, during Level 4 and beyond.

Love Soup Hibiscus Coast

Funding for food delivery and food rescue services, which provides kai for whānau in need and vulnerable people such as the homeless and the elderly.

The Pride Project

Funding towards community outreach work in Manurewa; particularly kai relief, and babies and hygiene needs.

Heart For Youth

Funding to support youth mental wellbeing and identified families in the community needing assistance with food.

I Got Your Back Pack

Funding towards its Safe Haven project, which provides wraparound support for women and children who have experienced domestic violence.

Belong Aotearoa

Funding to support migrant and refugee women to find employment post-Covid 19 through education and training opportunitie

Helensville Women and Family Centre

Funding for its community foodbank project, the Kai Collective, counselling and family support.

RaWiri Residents Association

Funding to support vulnerable members of the Wiri/Rata community, particularly the elderly, through delivery of food, clothes and other essential supplies, and support services.

Otahuhu Mainstreet & Commercial Association on behalf of Debbie Munroe, Waka of Caring

Funding for a local foodbank which has been set up by a member of the community, to buy much-needed food and essential supplies for the homeless and whānau in need in Manurewa.

Waiheke Budgeting Services

Funding to support the island's migrant workers community who are struggling financially and mentally, and unable to get any financial assistance.

Feed the Homeless Auckland

Funding to support their work distributing essential items to the homeless in Auckland’s CBD, including food, sanitary items including toothpaste and soap, and warm items such as socks, blankets and sleeping bags.

BBM (Buttabean Motivation)

Funding to to support its foodbank work in the South Auckland community, helping whānau in financial difficulty as a result of Covid-19 to accesss food and basic supplies.

Useful links

covid19.govt.nz/

For up-to-date, official Government information.

paerangi.nz/

A place for whānau to quickly and easily find Covid-19 information and support services in Tāmaki Makaurau.

0800 22 22 96

Auckland Emergency Management helpline for emergency support through a welfare parcel. The helpline is open 7am - 7pm, seven days a week.

covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/translations/

For translated resources and information, including te reo Māori, Kiribati, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuvaluan, Samoan, Niuean, Arabic, Fijian, Hindi, Rotuman and simplified Chinese.

www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/getting-through-together/

A toolkit with practical mental health and wellbeing advice, which includes resources to support parents with primary school-aged children to talk about their emotions.

1737 (also 1737.org.nz)

Free text or call service if you need to talk to a counsellor.