Fresh food, practical support and stronger community connections are all growing at Seed 2 Harvest Trust (S2H) thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Your West Support Fund. The funding will support the S2H Centre’s sustainable food initiatives, social supermarket, school holiday and community programmes, helping more West Auckland whānau access affordable, locally grown kai and connect as a community.
Seed 2 Harvest began in 2010 when Janet Tuitama and her family started distributing seed parcels containing food and essential supplies to local families. Today, it has grown into a thriving community hub located at 96 Swanson Road, Henderson.
‘We wanted to make a difference within our local neighbourhood and started by sharing seed parcels consisting of food and supplies for families in the West,’ explains Janet. The move to the new centre in 2023 enabled the trust to expand its services at a time when many families needed extra support. ‘Rising living costs, housing pressures and financial stress have significantly impacted many of the communities we serve,’ says Janet.
At the heart of the centre is the Fale-Kai social supermarket. Using an affordable points system, families can choose the groceries that best meet their household’s needs while stretching their budgets further. The Fale-Kai is open by appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Over the past 12 months, more than 1,000 families have benefited from the service. During that time, Seed 2 Harvest received substantial quantities of surplus food from its network of suppliers, redistributing it to local whānau instead of allowing it to go to waste.
Supporting the supermarket is the Kai Mara Community Garden, where volunteers grow organic fruit and vegetables for both their own whānau and the Fale-Kai. The garden not only provides fresh produce but also encourages people to learn new skills, share knowledge and connect with others.
Beyond food support, the S2H Centre has become a valued gathering place for the wider community. A growing number of local organisations and groups now hire the facility for hui, workshops and events that bring people together and strengthen community connections.
One of the newest initiatives is a partnership with Spectrum Care, a charitable trust providing disabled care services. Seed 2 Harvest has developed a gardening programme for people living with disabilities and is also creating a tranquil sensory garden at Spectrum Care’s Kumeū office.
With support from the Your West Support Fund, Seed 2 Harvest will continue growing practical solutions that improve food security, reduce waste and strengthen community wellbeing across West Auckland.
Learn more about Seed 2 Harvest at seed2harvest.co.nz or follow them on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
