More Than a Meal: Why Sharing Food Matters
There's something about sitting down to eat together
It might be a Sunday roast with the whole family, a quick dinner after a busy day, or simply finding half an hour when everyone is in the same place. Whatever it looks like, sharing a meal gives us an opportunity to stop, talk and connect.
At Tegel, we've been part of Kiwi mealtimes for generations. And while what ends up on the plate matters, we also believe there's value in what happens around it.
Food can be about more than what's on the plate
For some families, the challenge of putting nutritious food on the table is very real. It's something we've seen through our longstanding partnership with Kindness Collective, and it helped shape our thinking about how Tegel could do something more. Rather than asking Kiwis to make a separate donation or take an extra step, we wanted to make supporting another family part of something many people are already doing - putting dinner on their own table.
That became the idea behind Charity Chook.
For a limited time, our 1.7kg Tenderbasted whole chicken becomes Charity Chook, with $2 from every purchase donated to Kindness Collective to help provide meals for Kiwi families doing it tough.
Turning an everyday choice into something more
The idea is intentionally uncomplicated. One family chooses what to put on the table for dinner. In doing so, they help Kindness Collective put food on the table for another.
Angela Irwin, GM – Sustainability & Communications at Tegel, says it's this sense of connection that makes Charity Chook meaningful.
"Food has always had a way of bringing people together. We wanted Charity Chook to make it easy for Kiwis to help another family experience that too – simply through a choice they can make during their normal grocery shop."
Bringing more people around the table
Over the coming weeks, we want to celebrate that idea of connection and the simple act of sharing a meal.
Because ultimately, Charity Chook isn't just about changing the packaging on one of our chickens. It's about taking something that's already part of many Kiwi family meals and giving it the potential to help another family come together around theirs.
Our Charity Partner
Kindness Collective is a nationwide charity that supports children, families and communities to thrive. Their purpose is to harness the power of community kindness to support an equitable future for everyone living in New Zealand.
Tegel is a proud National Partner of Kindness Collective, helping to keep the doors open at their community hub and food bank. Alongside providing support, each week, we supply chicken as part of their Everyday Essentials programme, helping to get thousands of nutritious meals to those who need it most.
Our team also volunteers at their community hub, lending a hand to the many incredible initiatives that Kindness Collective runs. Events like our Charity Golf Day and donation matching campaigns help raise vital funds – so they can continue to deliver meaningful support to the communities they serve.
Kindness Collective Everyday Essentials
Over 170,000 children are living in material poverty in Aotearoa, with over 33% of Kiwis experiencing food insecurity, and this number is expected to climb.
Kindness Collective's Everyday Essentials programme supports children and families with day-to-day essentials during times of hardship.
They receive referrals from their Community Partners for families experiencing poverty, homelessness, illness, disability or family violence. The KC community hub and warehouse operates a busy food bank as well as a distribution centre that provides toiletries, clothing, pyjamas, blankets, baby items (nappies, cots, car seats, bassinets) and more to support families in need.
The programme also provides bulk food boxes to New Zealand Police stations and schools for families in crisis, and distributes rescued food and essentials to other organisations, providing a collaborative, community-led approach to alleviating poverty.
Where can I buy Charity Chook?
Where can I buy Charity Chook?
You can pick up a Charity Chook at New World supermarkets across the country and Pak n Save in the north island.
How long is Charity Chook available for?
How long is Charity Chook available for?
You can buy Charity Chook from the 17th August until the 13th September or until stocks run out.
How much of the donated money actually goes to families in need?
How much of the donated money actually goes to families in need?
100% of the money donated goes directly to supporting families in need through Kindness Collective’s Everyday Essentials programme. This programme supports children and families with day-to-day essentials during times of hardship, including those experiencing, homelessness, illness, disability or family violence.
Who are Kindness Collective?
Who are Kindness Collective?
Founded in 2013, Kindness Collective began as a behind-the-scenes community group with friends and family on a mission to make Aotearoa a kinder place for all. Every Kiwi deserves to thrive, but should at the very least have the basics; food, clothing, shelter and safety.
The reality is poverty and family violence statistics continue to climb. One in three children experiences hardship, disabled children are almost three times more likely to live in poverty, one in five women experience family violence and at least 33% of us experience food insecurity daily. These alarming statistics mean not everyone is thriving in New Zealand, so Kindness Collective provides practical and tangible support through six nationwide programmes.
This unique community-led approach means they go where the need is and help where it matters most.