Lee puts up cash for ‘new poor’

Press, 2 September 1989, Page 18

Lee puts up cash for ‘new poor’

PA Wellington Hungry families have been devouring Lower Hutt’s emergency Foodbank supply at such a rate that the Coromandel member of Parliament, Mr Graeme Lee, has decided to throw his weight behind the topping up exercise. Mr Lee became concerned when he heard the Foodbank’s supplies have been severely depleted, so he wrote out a cheque. The deputy manager of Bellamy’s, Ms Mary Smith, also contributed a large box of groceries, delivered by Mr Lee, while National Parliamentary secretaries also contributed a food parcel. Although disturbed that there was a need for such a facility Mr Lee was so impressed with the way it worked that he is attempting to set up a Foodbank in the Coromandel. “There is a new class of poor in society,” he said. "We have a lot of unemployed people in the Coromandel.” Mr Lee is investigating ways the Lottery Board can assist the Lower Hutt Foodbank. A Foodbank organiser, Chris Wood, said 57 food parcels were distributed last month and this month there would be more than 60. Two weeks ago stock was getting dangerously low but a recent spate of donations had helped.