Girls’ day out to feed families

There's never a quiet moment for Tauranga's Bellyful – it's the busiest branch of 16 nationwide providing 170 meals a month to struggling young families.

Today the volunteer-run organisation, which delivers free cooked meals to families with new babies and those struggling with illness, is holding a Ladies Garden Party fundraiser to raise money to keep up with the high demand.


Tauranga's Bellyful branch coordinator Karen Watts hopes the Ladies Garden Party will raise significant funds to continue to feed struggling young families. Photo by Bruce Barnard.

Tauranga's Bellyful branch coordinator Karen Watts says community awareness is the main reason the branch has an active role within struggling young families.

'We have reached that point where people are recognising us.

'It shows there is definitely a need for young Tauranga families who need the support.”

Karen recently delivered meals to a young family with newborn twins during Easter weekend who forgot supermarkets would be closed.

'You see this relief in people. They were so grateful that we arrived with meals which you could just pop in the microwave.”

The Ladies Garden Party will be held at Whakamarama's Foundation Gardens and offer a variety of live music, nibbles and an opportunity to capture memories in a photo booth.

There will also be a raffle and a silent auction with items donated from local businesses around Tauranga.

'We have had a lot of support from different organisations helping out by donating items, playing instruments, singing and setting up the photo booth.”

Karen says the venue is ideal for this fundraiser. 'It's a beautiful garden and you can enjoy your own time.”

Rain, hail or shine the fundraiser will go on with a marquee set up if the weather doesn't hold up.

Bellyful hopes to raise about $2000 from this fundraiser which will go directly towards costs of the meals.

The charity organisation is run by 20 to 30 volunteers and needs about $800 a month to continue cooking meals.

Ladies Garden Party is at Fountain Gardens, 170 Plummers Point Rd, Whakamarama, on from 1pm-4pm.

Tickets are $25 each at www.eventfinder.co.nz and search ‘Ladies Garden Party'.

To refer yourself or someone for meals, email karen.watts@bellyful.org.nz

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.