2025 Recap
As we step into a new year, we wanted to pause to take a look at some of the big changes that happened in Kairos in 2025.
Goodbye and Hello
In 2025, we farewelled some favourite faces and welcomed a few new ones.
November marked the end of a season as Stu stepped down from his role as General Manager, along with with his wife, Sarah. The leadership of Stu and Sarah took Kairos from its humble beginnings in a container in a carpark to the city-wide food rescue organisation that it is today. We are endlessly grateful for their dedication and innovation that helped power Kairos through its formative years. We wish them well in whatever their future holds.
In their place, we welcomed Kevin, our new General Manager. Kevin brings a wealth of experience in not-for-profit operations and management. Kevin is getting stuck in to supporting the vision of Kairos.
Anyone who came into the Kairos warehouse will remember the warm smile of Brydie, who finished her tenure as Warehouse Lead last April. Brydie left some big shoes to fill, but her role is ably taken over by Grace, who now manages our warehouse with energy, focus and professionalism.
Alex, our Free Store Lead, left us early in 2025 for a full-time youth leader role. The Free Store has now become the Community Hub, led by Finn, our Community and Volunteer Lead.
The Big Move
When we outgrew our original container space, we were offered the temporary use of a warehouse property on Tuam Street. It was a great space for both the warehouse and the Free Store, but we always knew it was only for the short-term, as the site was slated to be the future home of Grace Vineyard Church. Demolition of the warehouse was scheduled to begin in October of last year, which meant we needed to relocate.
We celebrated the final Free Store at Tuam Street on the 3rd of September. Shortly afterwards, the warehouse moved to its current premises in Waltham.
The Free Store has now become Kairos Community Hub, and operates at Grace Vineyard City Campus on 150 Ferry Road. We launched the Community Hub on Friday 3rd of October. It continues to be held every Friday from 4pm.
Other Milestones for the 2024/25 Year
250+ volunteers
Kairos has over 250 volunteers on our database
848 tonnes of food
distributed to recipient food groups
1,866,000 meals
placed back in Canterbury communities
$53,000 raised
Glammed Up for a Hand Up fundraiser, June 2025
$305,000 of labour
contributed by our volunteers
77 generous suppliers
rescuing and donating food
62 community organisations
supported by Kairos, providing food for weekly food parcels, community lunches, and events