Queenstown’s composting king has rallied the local community and a US business to raise $10,000 for beleaguered KiwiHarvest.
Last week Mountain Scene revealed the local branch of the national food rescue service is on borrowed time after its government funding was slashed by 90% earlier this month.
Among wide ramifications for the Queenstown operation is the immediate problem that the charity can’t afford the resort rental price for its Glenda Dr depot, where the food is stored before delivery.
KiwiHarvest set up a Givealittle page with a target of $30,000 to help pay rent for its month-to-month lease and other expenses, to keep its
operations going.
After reading about the charity’s plight in Scene, Waste to Wilderness owner, Queenstown’s Michael Sly, sprang into action to set up a
community composting and firewood drive last weekend, where all proceeds were diverted from his business to KiwiHarvest’s Givealittle
page.
The initiative added $5000 to the cause, taking KiwiHarvest’s total to nearly $10,000 at the time of publication.
The core part of Sly’s business is generating essential oils from the needles of wilding pines in a large still installed on his Speargrass Flat Rd property.
The fragrant extract is then shipped to a manufacturer in the US which turns it into a range of essential oils and body wash products under the doTERRA brand.
After hearing about Sly’s efforts for KiwiHarvest, doTERRA’s pledged to match the funds raised.
Sly says he was compelled to do something to help the charity which makes such a “massive positive impact’’ in helping food go to the right place.
“KiwiHarvest plays such a critical logistical role in the storage and movement of food to help ensure it is eaten by people who need it rather
than ending up in landfill.
“It’s amazing what they do.”
As part of his operation, Sly collects food waste from supermarkets, hotels, and householders and mixes it with other vegetation to make nutrient-rich compost.
He says when KiwiHarvest’s not involved, the volume of edible food going to compost doubles.
“There’s nothing worse than seeing something that could be eaten, going into compost.”
Support warms Hough’s heart
It was an email on Wednesday morning that really tugged at KiwiHarvest Queenstown manager Gary Hough’s heart-strings.
Shotover Primary student Kate Scott, 8, is an ambassador for the school, helping to organise events and hold fundraisers.
They’ve decided, she says in her email, to hold a fundraiser for KiwiHarvest on October 12.
‘‘We really appreciate the fruit that you have donated to us in the past and we read the article in the Mountain Scene and we wanted to support your fundraising efforts,’’ Kate wrote.
‘‘We know you have donated so much to help locals and we want to help.’’
Hough says the response following last week’s front page article has been ‘‘heart-warming’’, and will make a massive difference, though much more money is still required to salvage the food rescue service.
He’s particularly grateful to Michael Sly — who’s worked closely with KiwiHarvest since the very beginning — and all of those who’ve donated via the Givealittle page.
In more positive news, Hough says he’s had an initial chat with an earthworks company which may be able to help prep the ground for a proposed temporary site at Frankton, until Kiwi Harvest’s new, permanent home is built as part of the Whakatipu Community Hub.
‘‘It seems very positive,’’ he says.
‘‘That’s what we hoped for, getting the community behind us.’’
