At The Egg Project, we believe that being part of a community means more than just delivering fresh, organic, and free-range eggs to your door. It means giving back, supporting those in need, and making a positive impact wherever we can. This is what was the driving factor when we started The Egg Project.
Giving Back: How The Egg Project Supports Our Community
At The Egg Project, we believe that being part of a community means more than just delivering fresh, organic, and free-range eggs to your door. It means giving back, supporting those in need, and making a positive impact wherever we can. Over the years, we've been proud to contribute to countless community groups, events, and initiatives, and we're excited to share some of the ways we've made a difference.
Community isn't an add-on for us or something we do to tick a box - it's ingrained in everything we do. From the very start, this business was about community, and everything we've added since has been about supporting other small producers too, many of whom didn't have the systems or the ability to reach customers directly the way we could - so we did it for them.
How it all started: supporting other small producers
This side of things actually started almost by accident, during COVID. I was staying with a friend, and her close friends had fifty very mature avocado trees. They'd been told to just drop the avocados to the ground, because it was going to cost more to pick them than they'd get from selling them. So I said to them, "right, pack me some boxes" - I brought them home and listed them up on The Egg Project to see if our egg customers wanted them, because eggs and avocados go hand in hand, like peas and carrots! I'm still supporting them today, moving between 800 and 1,000 avocados a week during the season. Thats thanks to our egg eaters that have excellent taste in Avocados.... they really are the bestest!
After that, we started supporting a local asparagus producer who had been told to mow as the cost to pick and sell was not worth it, so same thing, i said pick me some, and that first season we sold 1.4 tonne, and we now still supply asparagus out to all of our egg customers. Its that relationship that sticks and makes it important. Since then we've also done blueberries, Tamarillos, pumpkins, NZ Elephant Garlic, kiwifruit, oranges and mandarins, spuds from other small, local producers - as well as growers further afield in the Hawke's Bay and Katikati.
We're also proud to be on board delivering certified organic milk and yoghurt from Three Oaks Organics, based right here in the Manawatū, plus honey, and a range of fully natural, certified beauty and health products made by some lovely friends of mine from Happy Horizon. Their Magesium cream is the best and their natural deoderant is the bomb.... I use all their products.
It's all about helping other producers get their products straight to the people, skipping the middlemen with their outrageous percentages and constraints that usually get in the way. We've already got the systems and the skill set built for eggs, so it just makes sense to open that same channel up for others too - it's better for them, and better for you, and we are coming to your place anyway!
Our Commitment to Community Donations
We've donated thousands of eggs to a wide range of community groups and events. Whether it's helping to feed families, supporting fundraising efforts, or providing relief during tough times, we're always looking for ways to give back. Some of the incredible causes we've supported include but not limited to:
- 42 Fundraising groups - These groups buy bulk eggs in dozen packs into one address, and then we give them back $1.00 per dozen. Its sitting at over $60,000 that we have donated back here.... not bad for a little business I reckon!
- Pink Ribbon Breakfasts - Helping raise funds for breast cancer awareness and research.
- Community Meals - Supplying eggs to local organisations that provide meals for those in need.
- Legacy Church and Salvation Army - Supporting their efforts to care for vulnerable members of the community.
- Relay for Life - Contributing to events that raise funds for cancer research and support services.
- Disaster Relief Donations - Providing eggs to communities affected by natural disasters.
When we couldn't donate, we've sold eggs at cost to ensure these groups could still access affordable, high-quality products. It's all part of our mission to make a difference, one egg at a time.
Beyond eggs: Peggy Purl and Project Uplift
Our giving goes beyond eggs too, using the same weekly delivery network we've already built. Through Peggy Purl Manawatū, now in its second year, we've helped collect around 800 knitted and crocheted items for those who need them. And through Project Uplift, we've helped send over 1,800 bras and underwear to people who need them, with collections still ongoing. It's the same ethos as everything else we do - using what we've already built to help in whatever way we can. Its a way for so many people to do something little that turns into something big... it really is about "All Things Good!"
Why We Do It
Our commitment to giving back stems from our belief that strong communities are built on kindness and support. Eggs are a versatile, nutritious food that can make a big impact in feeding families, supporting events, and raising funds. By donating to these causes, we're not just helping to meet immediate needs - we're also fostering a sense of connection and care within our community.
How You Can Help
We're not just about giving back ourselves - we want to empower our customers to join us in making a difference. Through our Packaging Take-Back Programme, you can help us reduce waste and support sustainability, and look a little after the planet, all they need to be is clean! We don't want any part of the egg back please. And with our website's donation feature, you can choose to donate eggs to causes like the Ruahine Kiwi Project, helping to protect New Zealand's precious wildlife.
The Bigger Picture
At The Egg Project, we're not just a business - we're a community partner. By combining our innovative business model with a commitment to giving back, we're creating a ripple effect of positive change. Every egg we deliver, every donation we make, and every initiative we support is a step toward building a better, more connected world and the only way we have been able to do it, is because of everyone that chooses to eat our eggs and support what we do!
Join Us in Making a Difference
We're incredibly proud of the impact we've made so far, but we know there's always more to do. Whether you're a loyal customer, a community group in need, or someone looking to make a difference, we'd love for you to join us on this journey. Together, we can continue to support our communities, one egg at a time.
