The gift of Bellyful meals when her mum could not be with her after the birth of her first child has propelled Mercedes to give back so other parents can experience the same care.
“I had my son in 2020 and we all know what happened that year – Covid. My mum was meant to be over from the UK to be there for the birth of my first child, but the closure of borders made that impossible,” Mercedes recalls.
“It was a challenging time—managing life with no family nearby in New Zealand, plus the demands of a new business plus what was going on in the wider world.”
During one of her visits, her midwife mentioned Bellyful. Bellyful provides families with meals that can be stored in the freezer, ready to be defrosted and heated on those days when cooking is the last thing you want to do.
“Which, for sleep-deprived parents with a newborn, can be most days! This seemingly small gesture made such a difference to us at the time.”
Mercedes was so grateful for the support that when she later found out a friend was pregnant, she wanted to pay it forward. “I offered up the services of my husband, Dale, because yes he is the cook in our household; to make a batch of freezer meals for them – giving them one less thing to worry about.”
Bellyful North Shore was delighted to receive Christmas a donation from Mercedes and her business Property Scouts Auckland Bays, which is enough for 25 nights of meals for local whānau.
“The incredible work Bellyful does wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers and donations. We’re delighted to contribute this year, knowing it will go towards supporting families who need it most.”
In our latest quarterly Bellyful recipient and referrer survey, Research NZ quizzed people who received Bellyful meals from July to August 2024.
- 92% say our meals allowed them to focus on caring for their baby
- 97% say we allowed them to eat something nutritious, rather than takeaways or something put together quickly
- 95% say we made them feel cared for
- 98% say our meals gave them a break when they needed it most
You can support Bellyful by making a donation and helping fill bellies: Donate here
