Sweet support: Nelson group delivering care packages to cheer up flood-affected locals

A Nelson woman is behind a movement bringing sweet support to those affected by the recent floods in the region.

Wakefield woman Melissa Woodhouse started The Big Bake Up to support to people after the severe weather event damaged a number of homes and displaced residents across the district.

When Westport was hit with flooding last July, Woodhouse said she “couldn’t sit still and do nothing” so she gathered some home baking and drove it to the coast.

After a few trips with a boot load of baking for Westport residents, The Big Bake Up was born.

It wasn’t her first time supporting people with kai after a natural disaster.

When ex-cyclones Fehi and Gita hit the Nelson region in 2018, Woodhouse was living in Riwaka, a small settlement near Motueka.

Many people’s homes were severely damaged in those storms, which lead several woman to form Beyond the Bridge Riwaka, working to keep people fed while they cleared mud and debris from their properties.

“I think it’s really important, it’s something we can do that makes people feel loved and supported and know that other people are there,” Woodhouse said.

Home baking is being distributed to those affected by flooding in the Nelson region by The Big Bake Up.
Photo: Supplied / Melissa Woodhouse / The Big Bake Up

She has been delivering groceries, baked goods and care packages to people – with the aim of helping them to feel loved and supported during a difficult time.

The impact of the weather event could be exhausting for people, and the food deliveries were just one way people could pitch in to help.

People can donate baking, money or supermarket vouchers to go towards food and care packages.

The group takes nominations and then personally delivers packages tailored to those that receive them, often with handwritten notes.

Care packages with handwritten notes are helping to make tough times brighter for those in Nelson.
Photo: Supplied / / The Big Bake Up

In the last week she said they had delivered at least 40 care packages, to several schools and residents in cut off areas like Cable Bay, Delaware Bay, Teal Valley and Lud Valley.

“I’ve had quite a few emails from people around New Zealand, maybe they’ve lived here in years past and have affection for their hometown and just want to support people.”

Woodhouse said they had been doing deliveries in areas that had limited access due to damaged roads.

When the Wakefield Bakery donated cream donuts, Woodhouse took them to Cable Bay and went door to door, offering the treats and checking in on people.

“When we’re going door to door and people were working, you hand them some chocolate fudge or brownie with this little message on the top, they were pretty stoked to receive it and that somebody had actually made that at home and we’re that support agency that just pass it over.

“Little stuff like that means a lot for people when they are just trying to get their heads around what’s going on.”

The Big Bake Up is also distributing groceries to people in need.
Photo: Supplied / Melissa Woodhouse / The Big Bake Up

Some properties had been really badly affected and it was stressful for people knowing they might never be able to return, she said.

“It’s quite emotional and there’s not a lot you can really say, it’s a little bit beyond words..but I ask people if they want me to keep in contact and we check in to see how people are going and I will continue to do that for months to come.”

The next thing on the agenda for The Big Bake Up was to organise cooking meals at the Wakefield Community Hall that would be frozen and distributed to those in need.

“It’s something that we’re going to carry on with past this for our community, so that we’re all set up and can be a little bit resilient, if something happens in our own neck of the woods.”

People can email thebigbakeup@gmail.com or visit it’s Facebook page to nominate people or offer their support.