Bellyful has served up a powerful reminder that food is about so much more than what’s on the plate.
In the year to March 2025, our volunteers across Aotearoa cooked and delivered 34,256 meals to 6,379 whānau – and together, we reached a huge milestone of more than 300,000 meals delivered since Bellyful began in 2009.
Our 2025 Annual Report celebrates that milestone and the people who made it possible. Every meal represents more than nourishment – it’s care, connection and a moment of relief when it’s needed most.
“Bellyful turned up when I was at my lowest and needed it most. It wasn’t just the food – it was the message that someone cared enough to help.”
– Bellyful recipient
Over the year, 566 volunteers took part in 244 Cookathons, turning simple ingredients into thousands of nourishing meals and countless acts of kindness. Among them were 3,389 meals for families with babies in hospital, which is a 24 percent increase on last year.
Bellyful now delivers directly to Neonatal and Special Care Baby Units (NICU and SCBU) in more than half of our communities, supporting parents who are juggling hospital life and home life.
“We brought our daughter home with a feeding tube and oxygen. Bellyful’s meals gave us nourishment and more time to focus on our daughter during this intense time.”
– Bellyful recipient
Partnerships made a huge difference, too. The Meat Box and Go Generosity helped turn kindness into kai, Mills Albert and Wellington Rugby brought our mahi into stadiums and homes around the motu, shining a light on the teamwork and community spirit that keep the pots bubbling. The Wright Family Foundation, Fidelity Life and our One Percent Collective donors provided crucial support that meant we can focus on what we do best, filling bellies when whānau need us.
We’re also grateful to all our funders, sponsors, referrers and community partners. Your support helped us reach families when it mattered most.
This year’s report shows how need continues to grow. Many families are turning to us because they are stretched thin and emotionally and physically exhausted. That’s why we’re focused on strengthening our people, systems and partnerships, so we can keep showing up with care, connection and kai wherever it’s needed.
So as Bellyful marks 16 years, our focus is firmly on the future. Our 2025–2027 Strategy – Shaping Our Future, sets our direction for the next chapter, built around three priorities: People, Sustainability and Impact.
We’ll keep investing in our people, the volunteers and branch leaders who bring Bellyful to life, through stronger training, practical tools and better connections across the motu. We’re also strengthening sustainability, making sure our funding, systems and food practices are solid and consistent across the country.
To everyone who helped us fill bellies and hearts in 2024/2025, thank you. We couldn’t do it without you.
