Taupō HB Megan Mason had just arrived home from Melbourne when her phone rang. It was a representative from the local foodbank, calling with an urgent request. 

The day before, Sunday 8th February, Taupō-nui-a-tia, a local secondary school, was significantly damaged in a fire. The school community was reeling, staff were working through the night to convert their lesson plans into online learning. Could the GBs help provide a sweet treat for a special staff lunch?

With 123 members of staff to feed, it was no small request, but Taupō GBs were ready to help in a hurry. After sign-off from HQ, Megan contacted her chapter via email and Facebook, and was astonished at how many bakers were willing to take on an extra bake to be there for their community at a time of need. “It was totally voluntary,” she says, “and would be on top of their regular baking.”

In just over 24 hours, “a staggering” 23 boxes of baking were delivered to the school. In a chapter with just under 50 bakers, this was a truly incredible number of boxes. 

Megan was amazed, she’d thought they might get 10, maybe 12 boxes. “Anyone who was able to help just got stuck in,” she says. One baker delivered five boxes - when Megan reached out to thank her, she simply said, “I’m just doing my part.”

It was a team effort to support the school. In a lovely example of community care, GBB was joined by Waiora House, Awhina Community Foodbank, Eat Catering, Interchurch Welfare Society, Taupō Baptist Church, Pak n Save and  Woolworths to gift lunch to the school staff. 

“It was a really nice day,” Megan said. “There were lots of lovely notes on the boxes. The school staff were so grateful, it was nice for them to know other people were thinking of them. They knew they were not alone, having to walk through this - we are thinking of them and we care. 

“It embodies what GBB is all about, really. In tough times, we’re there.” 

Simone Gibson from Awhina Society Trust echoes Megan’s praise.

“We were absolutely blown away by the amount of kai, the variety, the flavours - it was all amazing,” she says. 

“It was wonderful to see the staff all together for the first time since the fire. They said they felt truly blessed that their community had come together to support them in this way. They went away with full bellies and full hearts.”

It was a huge amount of coordination at the very last minute for Megan, who is no stranger to GBing in tough times (she set up the Taupō chapter just days before the March 2020 lockdowns!), but she says it was a privilege to be asked. 

“It was a wonderful thing to be a part of,” she says. “I felt so proud of our chapter, everything came together at such short notice. I was thrilled and it really had an impact.”

“If we all do a little bit,” Megan says, “we will make a difference.”