Breaking the debt cycle

*Mangere Budgeting Services Trust *
Passionate. Caring. Big-hearted.

Darryl Evans makes sure struggling families never go hungry by providing much needed food parcel support from their in-house Food Bank.

As CEO of the Mangere Budgeting Services Trust, he runs a food bank that provides 16,000 food parcels and 15,000 grocery packs for families and pensioners.

Darryl has a big heart, who has a reputation for putting children and families first. Each year he organises toys for around 1,400 children, as he believes every child should have a present under the Christmas Tree.

For the past two years he has organised a Christmas lunch for about 400 vulnerable families in partnership with Lone Star, Pukekohe.

"We support several thousand people each year across our three centres," says Darryl.

"Without our help, many would go without the basic essentials.”

While the food parcels help, Darryl goes the next step to encourage the families to get themselves out of financial strife with the support of a team of Financial Mentors and through education workshops.

His team provide budgeting advice, financial planning and can negotiate with creditors.

They also deliver Financial Literacy workshops across Auckland and the North Waikato.

“Without sound budgeting advice, our clients would continue to live in debt, he says but through our supports, they often learn to make smarter choices with their personal income.

"Our mantra is 'you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day but teach him how to fish, and you feed him and his community for a lifetime'."

Through ongoing support, our families do go on to live healthier, happier and productive lives, says Darryl.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Mangere Budgeting Services Trust will use its grant to cover the cost of the food bank for 12 months and help pay the fuel costs for a delivery van.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here