The Kai Programme Relocation

Ethan Burling is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Matangaro Brown.

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Hi my name is Ethan Burling, I am the creator of The Kai Programme here in Hamilton New Zealand. I created this meal programme for the community to help those Individuals and Families that are struggling to feed themselves and their families and I took it upon myself to make a difference in our community when people only talked about it and never put anything into action. In December of 2018 I decided I would make a difference and launched The Kai Programme in August 2019 and I have been personally cooking the meals for the community for the past several months on my own.

I am in need of help to raise the funds needed to relocate The Kai Programme out of the city where it is currently located and into the suburbs where the cost to operate The Kai Programme is lower and so I can reach and help more people in our community.

I created The Kai Programme in December 2018 after seeing how my friends and other people were struggling with having healthy food for themselves and their families. Since the creation of The Kai Programme I have seen a lot of people in the supermarkets putting back fruits and veggies once they had gotten to the counter
because of how expensive it is and they had to choose what they needed the most and they often choose the less expensive option which is always processed junk foods and takeaways.

The goal of The Kai Programme is to provide low cost meals for struggling individuals and families by giving them a move affordable option that does not require them to spend hundreds of dollars at the supermarket on branded products that are just to expensive for a struggling family to afford each week.

The Kai Programme is able to buy food in bulk which lowers the price on food that you would otherwise buy at a higher price at the supermarket and we are able to pass on those savings to the clients on the programme

The Kai Proramme is not about making a profit it is about making a difference and to improve the quality of life in our community. I think it is important that The Kai Programme continues its work, It gives the community an option for healthy and affordable meals for themselves and their families.

The Kai Programme has been a blessing for many families knowing their kids get a healthy meal every night and that they are taken care of and they don't have to stress over deciding what to cook when they get home.

The Kai Programme is registered with Work & Incomes to help beneficiaries as well.

If we are successful in reaching our fundraising goals we plan to implement a more comprehensive meal programme that offers breakfast lunch and dinner to our clients which includes healthy school lunches for kids.

If our maximum goal of $10,000 is achieved we will have the capacity to cook around 600 meals per day that means we will be able to help around 200 families and around 200-300 Individuals which would be amazing and have a huge impact.

Taking over a new location has many challenges such as renovating the new location to get the kitchen up to standard and registering the kitchen with a food control plan with the Hamilton City Council.

We are needing to raise the funds for:
2 months rent for the lease deposit
Council building consent & Registration fees.
Building Supplies
Extraction Hood 1.2m-3m & Installation costs

Our bare minimum for fundraising is $5,300
Our maximum goal is $10,000

Fundraising milestones:

First Milestone $3,100 Obtain New Location [ACHIEVED FIRST MILESTONE AND SECURED LOCATION]
If we reach this amount we will enter negotiations to secure the location for The Kai Programme.

Second Milestone $5,300 Minor Internal Building Alterations & Installation of Equipment
If we reach this amount we can make alterations to the kitchen and have all equipment Installed that is required forThe Kai Programme and the kitchens registration fee with the Hamilton City Council.

Third Milestone $10,000 Extraction Hood Purchase- Installation and building consent fees
Purchase of an Extraction hood and have it professionally installed.

We hope to raise our minimum goal of $5,300 and our maximum goal of $10,000 by March if we can get enough people to support The Kai Programme so we can operate at full capacity to really make a difference in our communit

Over the last couple week we have made adjustments to our fundraising goal because of people donating their services which has made a huge difference and has allowed us to reduce our goal considerably. Our latest adjustment to $5,300 will allow us to register a new commercial kitchen which will allow us to get The Kai Programme up and running by March if we are able to reach our new minimum target.

While our minimum goal of $5,300 will get the Kai Programme up and running it will be far from operating at full capacity, which is why we hope to reach our maximum goal of $10,000 to have a bigger Extraction hood installed to increase our capacity for up to 500-600 meals per day.

Many people wish we were located in all major cities across New Zealand but for now we are located in Hamilton until we are able to spread across the country. If we are able to raise additional funds on top of our main goal then we can look at setting up more locations around New Zealand in cities such as Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch, Each location will cost around $30,000 to set up, but that is a plan for the future.

Though my goals do not stop at just helping to feed the community i also hope to one day achieve my other two programmes which would help to provide housing and jobs for those who are struggling to find their own place and what better way to provide housing then to collaborate with tradesmen to take on apprentices to build the accommodation that they and so many others need. Not only would this provide people with skills but also a career and the opportunity to help those that were once in their position and I thought that was a great idea, and one day i hope to see this achieved if not by me then someone who is like minded.

At the end of the day we do what we can for others, and I hope the community will support The Kai Programme going forward to see what we can achieve in the future. I would be eternally grateful for your support.

Not long before we launched The Kai Programme, The Waikato Times came to interview me and we discussed The Kai Programme and what I am trying to achieve for our community. https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/114427797/kai-bag-for-struggling-families-gears-up-to-launch-in-hamilton

Recent article in The Waikato Times 11/01/2020
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118665373/expand-or-end-hamiltons-kai-programme-fundraising-to-continue-lowcost-dinner-service?fbclid=IwAR2ls1YMYnBdeNhP7lApF43aoc1zLoY9a6l5fM1C2LJrDERFr17xxtue8Ko

Though we are asking for donations we are able to give you something back for your kind donation.

We are able to offer these gifts based on donations.

Hangi meal Vouchers (Single) for donations of $20 or more

Hangi Combo Vouchers (Includes Hangi, Steamed Pudding, Fry Bread & Drink) for donations of$25 or over

Hangi Family Pack Vouchers (Includes 4 Hangi Combos) for donations of $100 or over

Hangi Catering Vouchers (Can cater up to 35 per voucher) for donations of $500 or over

1 Week Free Trial for an Individual or Family of 4 for Donations of $60 or more

These gifts can be claimed by messaging us through gofundme or through The Kai Shop's Page on facebook

If we are unsuccessful in reaching our maximum goal The Kai Programme will be put on hold, while we continue to fundraise to reach the maximum goal but i have faith we will reach the goal and launch the new Kai Programme with breakfast lunch and dinner.

If you have made it this far I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my gofundme fundraiser and I hope you will support me in relocating The Kai Programme it would really mean a lot to see like minded people come together to help make this happen