Volunteer Katie Arathimos first found Bellyful NZ while looking for a way to share her love of food around her family commitments.
“I googled various volunteering opportunities involving food. It had to be local, in the evenings and on a monthly basis for it to work with a young child. I’d done Kaibosh previously and was already a member of Good Bitches Baking.”
For more than five years, Katie has joined the Bellyful Porirua Cookathons to prepare meals for families who need support. “It is fulfilling doing something useful and tangible for my community.”
Katie enjoys catching up with other volunteers and developing relationships with so many lovely, generous and kind people.
“I love the ethos of Bellyful and having had my son overseas, I truly appreciate how much meals mean to people with newborns or illness affecting their family. I took some time off through my own husband’s cancer and subsequent death last year.”
Bellyful Porirua offered meals as she navigated this immense loss, but she had zero freezer space due to her friends and family taking such great care of her whānau.
“The most meaningful aspect of my connection was when I could return to cook nights, feel that aroha and care from my team and resume ‘normal’ life activities.”
Katie invites anyone looking to make a practical difference to join Bellyful: “If you want to contribute in a real and useful way to your community, join us!”
Bellyful Porirua is looking for volunteers – get in touch if you would like to help.
There are lots of ways you can get involved with Bellyful. You can volunteer, donate or share your own Bellyful story.
