The joy that Bellyful meals deliver is the magic ingredient that’s kept volunteer Sharon Pittam giving her time and love to the charity for more than a decade.
Sharon has been with Bellyful Auckland since the year it was opened, 2013. In that time, the branch has delivered tens of thousands of meals to East Auckland families.
Sharon is one of more than 600 incredible volunteers in 25 Bellyful branches nationwide, who cook and deliver yummy meals to whānau who need support. These are often exhausted new parents, whānau where someone is unwell, who have no extended family locally, or who are just simply going through a challenging patch.
The charity provides enough meals for a few nights, so there is something in the freezer on the tough evenings.
“I am a people person who enjoys the service we give and the joy it gives to families who need our help,” Sharon says, on what keeps her coming back.
She first read about Bellyful in an article in a local paper and it inspired her to get in touch with local branch coordinators to see how she could help.
“I attended the first Bellyful East Auckland meeting at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club. After this I became a volunteer, to show support and participate.”
Sharon has held numerous roles, helping out at monthly Cookathons, fundraising, raising awareness, doing laundry from the Cookathons and arranging branch volunteer gatherings.
Her favourite memory is a joint fundraiser with Rotary to raise funds for the first freezer for Bellyful East Auckland, a freezer she is delighted to report is still going a decade later. She says being involved with Rotary has helped her learn how to organise fundraisers, a skill she has brought to Bellyful events.
“I find Bellyful is one of the small charities locally that has survived problems and COVID. The chairperson of the local Salvation Army where we do our Cookathons is amazed and thinks it is wonderful what we do and to keep on doing it as long as we have.”
Bellyful East Auckland Branch Coordinator Andrea Martin says the charity’s strength is down to amazing volunteers like Sharon.
“Our Bellyful volunteers are amazing. The care they have for our local community and the love and energy they put into helping whanau through everything they do is so special. I truly feel honoured to get to be part of this.”
