Spotlight on Impact: KiwiHarvest
KiwiHarvest, Aotearoa’s food rescue charity, redistributes over 200,000 kgs of excess food every month, aiding 220 community organisations that feed families in need. To support this kaupapa, KiwiHarvest relies on volunteers, who collectively contribute over $200,000 worth of time every year. However, the impact of this volunteer programme had been largely anecdotal until KiwiHarvest partnered with Honor Impact to assess the programme's effects, with a focus on better understanding the impact for retirees and corporate volunteers.
Honor Impact’s approach focused on understanding the clarity of purpose, scale of impact, and evidence of change. With KiwiHarvest's strong mission and values, they quickly set out to measure the scale of the impact. A nationwide volunteer survey was launched, followed by interviews to establish causal links between volunteering and behaviour change.
The findings revealed that both retirees and corporate volunteers experienced significant benefits, including improved physical and mental health, and enhanced social skills.
They also felt closer to their community, with increased empathy and understanding of the diversity for those facing food insecurity.
“Volunteers are critical to KiwiHarvest. Their contribution enables us to do more with less. This study has shown us that we also give back to our volunteers, which is great news! Angela Calver, CEO KiwiHarvest
These insights not only demonstrated the scale and outcomes of KiwiHarvest’s volunteer experience but also provided the basis for compelling case studies. These narratives will help KiwiHarvest attract more volunteers and corporate support.
“Communicating the positive changes you are creating inspires others to join you,” says Roschelle Marshall, Founder of Honor Impact. “With hard evidence, your communications can deliver both facts and the stories of those experiencing change. While KiwiHarvest is known for food rescue and food support, the magic middle lies in their people and the volunteers to make it happen—the ‘1+1=3’ effect that makes it all possible.”
Angela Calver, CEO of KiwiHarvest, believes this project has proven they are creating social impact for their volunteers as well as their communities. “Volunteers are critical to KiwiHarvest. Their contribution enables us to do more with less. This study has shown us that we also give back to our volunteers, which is great news! Roschelle from Honor Impact has been great to deal with and has quickly shown us that the relationship between KiwiHarvest and our volunteers is mutually beneficial. Thanks so much Roschelle!”
