Donate an animal for I Am Hope

ANZCO Foods suppliers can now turn livestock into support for young New Zealanders by donating the proceeds from the sale of cattle, sheep, lambs or calves to I Am Hope.

The initiative was inspired by a North Canterbury farmer who rallied others in his community to support the charity, with around 20 farmers donating livestock and collectively raising a significant amount.

We’re now making it easy for ANZCO Foods suppliers across the country to do the same.

Supporting young New Zealanders

I Am Hope is a New Zealand charity focused on improving mental health outcomes and making it easier for people to talk about mental health and access support when they need it.

Through Gumboot Friday, the charity provides free counselling for anyone aged 25 and under, with no GP referral required. Demand continues to grow – in May alone, Gumboot Friday funded 3,578 counselling sessions. Since 2019, more than 161,000 sessions have been funded through a nationwide network of more than 900 registered counsellors and therapists.

I Am Hope also delivers its Little People, Big Feelings programme in primary schools, helping children understand their emotions and giving them the language and confidence to talk about how they’re feeling.

How to donate livestock

Donating is simple.

For cattle, sheep or lambs, contact your Livestock Rep to make a separate booking for the livestock you would like to donate. On the ASD form under 8.0 Additional Information, advise us that the proceeds are to go to I Am Hope.

The animal/s will be processed as normal, with the proceeds donated directly to I Am Hope on your behalf.

For calves, email info@anzcoproducers.co.nz with the number of calves you would like to donate. We will overnight courier you ear tags to apply before your booking is made. This option is available to existing ANZCO Foods calf suppliers who have already completed a declaration for the season.

Whether it’s a lamb, a calf, a bull or more than one animal, every donation helps more young New Zealanders access professional counselling when they need it most.

Need support?

If you, a family member or someone you know could benefit from support, there are a range of resources available.

Gumboot Friday provides free counselling for anyone aged 25 and under, while I Am Hope offers practical wellbeing resources for people of all ages. Support and resources are also available through Rural Support Trust and Farmstrong.