Bellyful is a volunteer-led charity nourishing whānau and connecting communities by delivering free meals to families with babies and young children who are without a support network.
E whāngai ana, e tūhono ana hoki a Bellyful i ngā hapori mā te tunu me te whakataka i ngā kai utukore ki ngā whānau whai pēpi, whai kōhungahunga rānei, e matea nei te tautoko.
Me pēhea mātou koe e āwhina?
“Seriously? Free Meals?!”
“I nē? He kai utukore?!”
At Bellyful, we get it – those early years with little ones can be tough enough, even before you add other children, work, or life’s unexpected challenges.
We provide free meals to whānau with babies or children under 12 who are facing tough times like illness, bereavement, stress, isolation, pregnancy, miscarriage, or baby loss – no matter their financial situation. Our support is for families without a support network.
A few ready-to-eat meals, delivered by a friendly face, can be a real sanity-saver.
Thanks to our amazing sponsors, supporters, and volunteers, Bellyful is bringing a little bit of care to families in 25 communities across Aotearoa – and it’s all completely free.
Want to know if Bellyful delivers in your community?
Ki Bellyful, e mōhio pū ana mātou ki ngā taumahatanga i ngā tau nohinohi – me te aha hoki, e pēnā tonu ana i mua i te tāpiri i ngā tamariki anō, me āu mahi hoki!
Nō te 2009, kua whāngai, kua tūhono hoki ngā tūao o Bellyful i ngā hapori mā te tunu me te whakataka i ngā kai utukore ki ngā whānau whai pēpi, whai kōhungahunga rānei, e matea nei te tautoko. Mā te whai i ngā kai e whakatakangia nei e tētahi hoa whai aroha e tau ai te mauri.
E tautoko ana a Bellyful i ngā whānau ki ngā hapori e 25 puta noa i Aotearoa nā ō mātou kaitautoko mīharo rātou ko ngā tūao, ka mutu, he utukore te ratonga nei.
E hiahia ana kia mōhio ki tā Bellyful tautoko ai i tō hapori?
About Bellyful
Bellyful was ‘born’ out of the desire to see families supported by their fellow community members.
Mō Bellyful
I ‘puāwai’ a Bellyful i te kōingo kia tautokona ngā whānau e ō rātou ake hapori.
Bellyful Volunteers
Join our ever-growing team of amazing volunteers, helping us fill bellies across New Zealand.
Ngā Tūao Bellyful
Tūhono mai ki tā mātou puna tūao e kaha tupu haere ana, kia puta a Pito huri noa i Aotearoa.
Support Bellyful
We need your help to fill bellies! Donations of any size will all help whānau who need a bit of extra support.
Tautokona a Bellyful
E matea ana tō āwhina e mātou kia whakakī puku! Mā ngā takohatanga, ahakoa te rahi, ngā whānau e āwhina ai pēnā e matea ana te tautoko e rātou.
About Bellyful
Bellyful was ‘born’ out of the desire to see families supported by their fellow community members.
Bellyful Volunteers
Join our ever-growing team of amazing volunteers, helping us fill bellies across New Zealand.
Support Bellyful
We need your help to fill bellies! Donations of any size will all help our families who need a bit of extra support.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Please get in touch if you have any further questions.
Does Bellyful deliver in my area?
Bellyful currently delivers in 25 New Zealand communities. Head over to our Branches page to see where we are.
How do I know whether I can receive meals from Bellyful?
Bellyful provides meals to whānau with babies or children under 12 who are facing challenges such as illness, bereavement, stress, isolation, pregnancy, miscarriage, or baby loss – regardless of financial situation. We help families without a support network – no friends, family, or a community that can provide meals. You need to be in one of our delivery areas. Please go to our referral forms to refer yourself. If you are referring someone else, you must ask for their permission first.
How many meals does Bellyful provide?
Each Bellyful branch depends on local volunteers to prepare and deliver nutritious, freezer-friendly meals. Based on availability, each family may receive up to three nights of meals, feeding the primary caregiver/s and the children in their care.
What volunteer roles do you have?
A wide range. You could help as a delivery volunteer, pitch in at Cookathons, or help at fundraisers. We need new branch leaders from time to time, coordinating the branch, or its recipients, Cookathons, or fundraising. We also have volunteering opportunities with our national team, doing helpful things like writing stories or updating our social media. If you think you could contribute in another way, click here and let us know!
Are there ways I can help other than volunteering?
Definitely! See our fundraising page
How do I refer someone?
Can I refer myself?
What is a ‘Cookathon’ like?
Can I cook at home?
How do I donate?
As an immigrant, my support network was limited when my first baby was born. Bellyful provided exactly what I needed to recover from a hard C-section, as my partner had an accident involving his hand and could not cook for us for a full week. I felt part of a wider community and my family will never forget the support we received. We could feel the care in every meal that kept us functioning in a vulnerable time of our lives.
Bellyful recipient
August 2025 Feedback Survey
Bellyful is an amazing service that helps families in times of desperation! Helping families to reduce stress by not having to cook a meal is by far the best thing anyone could do to be helpful, and Bellyful does just that. So thank you.
Bellyful referrer
August 2025 Feedback Survey
I’m incredibly thankful that this service exists. I was having the hardest two weeks of my life with a child in NICU, complications myself, and my husband left to entertain our toddler and drive me. Having the meals from Bellyful gave us space to not have to think about dinner and have something healthy on the table. We really, really enjoyed the bolognaise. Thank you.
Bellyful recipient
August 2025 Feedback Survey
I had no idea this community service existed and was very surprised and appreciative to hear good quality food would be delivered to my door with absolutely no worries. Amazing thing to be offered, no strings attached, at a time when you really just need a break. It was much appreciated and an absolute must for some families, especially ones with other young children. Everyone that is a part of Bellyful is doing a great job.
Bellyful recipient
August 2025 Feedback Survey
"I just want to say thank you so much for the ready to go meals. When I had my baby she arrived two weeks and two days earlier. I wasn't prepared for her early arrival and I was going through a lot of juggling with my four other kids. The meals free time up for me to adjust to this new routine. Thank you."
Bellyful recipient
October 2024 Feedback Survey
"Bellyful, thank you so much for not only the meal, for the care, the attention, the help and going out of your way to help me because I'm one that rarely asks for help. Felt good to know that someone out there heard and cared with actual actions when it wasn't even in their job to."
Bellyful Recipient
June 2023 Feedback Survey
Bellyful turned up to support me when I was at my lowest and needed it the most! That lady didn’t know but when she turned up at my door to drop us that bag she was the happiest face I had seen in a long time. Those meals were more healthy than the noodles my children were living off and they loved the food! I wish I knew how to make it myself. Thank you so much for your support, it meant a lot and saved me from trying to think about feeding my children when I couldn’t get it together to even feed myself.
Bellyful recipient
October 2024 Feedback Survey
"Having my partner go back to work after two weeks and having to deal with a newborn alone was so hard, especially when he would come home and then cook dinner, then it was bed time. It gave us family bonding time."
Bellyful Recipient
June 2023 Feedback Survey
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