October 2025 Update: New Growth and Festive Plans
As the days grow longer and spring breathes new life into the Marlborough landscape, we're thrilled to share some new growth of our own at ElderLink. We're oexcited to have officially been allocated a garden plot at the Blenheim Community Gardens. It's taken some patience and hard work to tame the previously overgrown patch, but thanks to the fantastic efforts of a couple of our dedicated volunteers and the knowledgeable guidance of Daniel from the gardens, the plot is now cleared, prepared, and in a perfect sowable state. We're looking forward to start planting and adding fresh, nutritious produce directly from our garden into our food parcels. We also plan to give produce away to over-65s at local markets, helping us connect directly with more of our community.
While we've been busy with the garden, we've also been closely monitoring the demand for our services. Over the past two months, we have seen a noticeable shift. After a peak of providing support to 14 clients per week during the colder season, demand has now tapered off to an average of six. Our sincere hope is that this reflects some positive developments and easing of pressures in the lives of those we support. We also recognise the seasonal challenges our clients face; several have shared that the winter months are particularly taxing on a fixed budget. This feedback aligns with national media coverage highlighting the difficult "heat or eat" decisions that some pension-aged Kiwis are forced to make, and we are heartened to think the warmer weather may be providing some small relief.
Looking ahead, our sights are now set on the end of the year and the fast-approaching festive season. With our new garden plot, our immediate goal is to get it sowed and flourishing. In parallel, we are beginning to develop plans for our Christmas hampers. We envision these being filled not just with essentials, but also with sweet treats and festive favourites, like the classic Scorched Almonds, to bring some extra cheer to our clients during the holidays. By December, our aim is to provide substantial and heartfelt Christmas food support that makes a real difference.
None of these plans—from the first seed in our new garden to the last Christmas hamper—would be possible without the incredible generosity of our community. We continue to be humbled by the support from our amazing sponsors and supporters, and we extend our deepest thanks for their unwavering commitment to ElderLink's mission.