Head butcher Jake Wiffen with one of the 33 care packages given out to families in need. PHOTO/ARTHUR HAWKES
ARTHUR HAWKES
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Homegrown Butcher, Deli and Pantry, based in Kuripuni, on Monday gifted 33 bags of top quality meat products to families in need.
The four-kilo bumper packs contained a kilogram each of beef patties, dye-free saveloys, pork sausages, and beef mince – all made in house by their skilled team, headed by butcher Jake Wiffen.
It all began with a social media call, which advertised the gifts to families in need, who had to be based in Wairarapa and physically pick up the parcels.
There was also a good level of discretion as they stated that people should be nominated, or apply, via PMs [private messages]; this way, families wouldn’t have to feel like they were publicly asking, or being singled out by Facebook friends.
“Hard times, we know, we’ve heard it, so we’ve got our boys to make extra this weekend to give away,” Homegrown’s social media post stated.
All the meat packs, totalling 132kg, were allocated within an hour of the post made on Sunday night and were given out from 11am to 5pm on Monday.
“We have been overwhelmed and will endeavour to do it again real soon.”
Head butcher Jake Wiffen, who was busy bagging care packages throughout Monday, said this was more than just a ‘random act of kindness’, and was a heartfelt thank-you to all the locals who supported them throughout the turbulent times they’ve had to weather.
“The community really got behind us and supported us during covid, and we wanted to really do something that would give back to them,” Wiffen said.
