Awarua Synergy is chipping in with a donation to a new Invercargill food bank this week, chief executive Sumaria Beaton says.
Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust was launching a new food bank called Pataka Oranga in Invercargill and the team at Awarua Synergy were keen to help out with a donation, Beaton said.
The team had put together a warm-up pack for families in need containing hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate thins, warm socks, hot water bottles and blankets, Beaton said.
“We’re really supportive of the new food bank and wanted to make a contribution to the cause. Helping people stay warm is at the core of what we do,” she said.
Foodbanks often received a lot of the cupboard staples so they thought some sweet treats would be a welcome addition, she said.
They had also included some information on energy saving tips and things to avoid around the home, she said.
“For example, it’s recommended people don’t dry washing inside their houses. Damp air is harder to heat, so you’ll have to keep your heating on for longer, and moisture inside homes leads to mould,” Beaton said.
While the weather was slowly warming up as spring kicked in, there would still be some cold spells in Southland before summer, such as this week, Beaton said.
Summer was also a great time to look into insulation and heating options in order to beat the winter rush, she said.
Awarua Synergy are Southland experts in helping families, businesses and farms find energy efficiency solutions, and offer free home energy assessments.
The Invercargill-based company has insulated more than 7000 Southland homes since 2004.