Nourished For Nil

Nourished for Nil collects surplus food and distributes it to the Hawke’s Bay community free of charge. Food is donated by local supermarkets, growers, manufacturers and cafes, who support Nourished for Nil’s aims of reducing food waste and supporting local communities. Everyone is welcome to receive a food parcel of rescued food – no eligibility criteria needed. We run seven free food distribution services a week. The food rescued and distributed by Nourished for Nil would otherwise go to landfill (and in the case of surplus canned goods, to deep-pit landfill), which creates greenhouse gases and uses up limited landfill space. In 2024 Nourished for Nil rescued over tonnes of surplus food and distributed over food parcels to families throughout Hastings and Napier. Nourished for Nil runs the Napier and Hastings food banks and two social supermarkets in Napier and Hastings, which are accessed through agency referral. We work with over 40 agencies throughout Hawke’s Bay. In 2024 we supported families in need with over 3,800 emergency food parcels through the food banks, and over 2,600 subsidised supermarket shops through the social supermarkets. We also support other food banks and food rescue organisations throughout New Zealand with donations of surplus produce from generous Hawke’s Bay growers. Nourished for Nil is powered by an outstanding group of committed volunteers who share the goal of reducing waste and supporting the community. In 2024, Deloitte calculated Nourished for Nil's Social Return on Investment as 8.8:1, meaning that for every $1 donated, Nourished for Nil creates $8.80 of social value in the community. This gives donors confidence that their donation has creates value beyond the initial dollar amount. Nourished for Nil was also a finalist in the outstanding social impact category for the Hawke's Bay Business Awards in 2024.