Abstract
This report for churches and faith-based groups draws on Dr Katharine Cresswell Riol’s PhD completed at University of Otago, http://hdl.handle.net/10523/12297.
It argues that while foodbanks (which are largely supported by faith-based organizations) play a vital role in feeding the hungry in modern NZ, they can inadvertently contribute to the stigma and humiliation of those using the food banks. Not only so, but the provision of foodbanks works to mask the shortcomings of social welfare and food security in our society. How should the churches respond to this? The report provides recommendations to ensure that foodbanks do not diminish the dignity of their clients, and presents a call for activism towards systemic change.