Paint Pots to Help Feed People in Need

It’s that time of year again, when New Zealanders across the motu will be visiting Resene and donating cans of food in exchange for Resene paint testpots.

Now entering its 10th year, the Resene Hunger for Colour food fundraiser gives people a chance to donate food and help vulnerable families in their community by swapping two cans of food for a 60mL or 80mL testpot of Resene paint. In February, people can swap up to 14 cans of food for seven Resene testpots. All cans donated at Resene stores are given to local Salvation Army foodbanks.

The value of a testpot is $6.50, and the campaign runs until 29 February.

In nine years, this annual fundraiser has helped put more than 300,000 cans on foodbank shelves and seen Resene donate more than $1,500,000 worth of paint.

Salvation Army Territorial Director of Community Ministries Jono Bell says this time of year is a challenge for Salvation Army foodbanks with increased demand, with shelves low in stock post-Christmas.

“At the beginning of the year many of our foodbanks find themselves with bare shelves and need to re-stock to provide families with food. When food stocks are low, our centres really appreciate the arrival of Hunger for Colour at this time of year knowing the cans will start coming in.”

In 2023, The Salvation Army provided more than 80,000 food parcels to Kiwis struggling to put food on the table.

“We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity by ordinary Kiwis shown through Resene Hunger for Colour. Being able to rely on Resene each year really makes a difference in helping ensure families don’t go hungry,” says Bell.

“This campaign is particularly helpful, as there is a Resene ColorShop almost everywhere we have a foodbank. Knowing that we can restock our shelves with food to share with those in need is wonderful and an amazing way to start the year.”

Resene Marketing Manager Karen Warman says, “The campaign has generated so much fantastic feedback over the past nine years and we’re delighted to be able to help our fellow Kiwis.

Decorators love that they are donating something tangible that will help someone in need in their local community while giving them a chance to get creative with Resene testpots.”

The Hunger for Colour campaign is a yearly highlight for craft and community groups. It’s also popular with renovators, as it provides the chance to try out multiple decorating colours for the cost of two food cans.

The Salvation Army Territorial Media Officer, 021 945 337, email: media@salvationarmy.org.nz (The Media Officer responds to enquiries from media outlets and journalists. If you would like to donate, are in need of help, or have some other non-media-related enquiry, please call 0800 53 00 00.)