Resene brightens homes for thousands

Paint company Resene and generous New Zealanders will be brightening the homes and lives of thousands this month.

The Resene Hunger for Colour fundraiser is back, for its third year helping struggling New Zealanders put food on the table and bring colour to Kiwi homes.

The initiative, which runs from 1-28 February, invites people to head to one of 65 Resene ColorShops around the country and swap cans of food for 60-80ml test pots of Resene paint. The cans are then donated to their local Salvation Army food bank.

Over the last three years, Kiwis swapped over 110,000 cans of food for paint, with community groups such as Palmy Rocks driving a huge rise in donations last year.

The cans were a major boost for Salvation Army foodbanks just at the right time, Salvation Army National Manager of welfare services, Major Pam Waugh says.

'This time of year is an extra busy time for us as many families are struggling with the combined effects of Christmas, holidays and back to school costs. Our food parcels provide real relief, allowing some of the household budget to be redirected to target debt and one-off essential costs, including back to school expenses.’

In 2017 The Salvation Army provided almost 64,000 food parcels to struggling New Zealanders, Pam says.

Resene Marketing Manager Karen Warman says the company first collected cans for The Salvation Army after the Canterbury earthquakes. Staff and customers loved the idea and the company has been looking for ways to give back ever since, she says.

‘The campaign has generated fantastic feedback for three years running. People like donating food knowing it was going directly to help someone in need and the testpots are a popular, versatile product which encourages people to come in,’ she says.

‘The response in some communities last year was incredible. More than 3000 cans were donated at Resene’s Palmerston North ColorShop alone, with other stores close behind. ‘The stores love it, customers love it and we love it.’