Six years on, a spontaneous pie idea is still helping Waikato kids

An idea that popped up over coffee has become a six-year tradition, with thousands of pies helping put practical support into the hands of children in care.

The project partners are Breeze Waikato breakfast hosts, Stu and Camille, Oxford Pies and Kids in Need Waikato.

The group went to Hamilton’s CBD on Tuesday for the annual fundraiser, this year aiming to raise $18,000 for the charity.

The partnership has grown from its early beginnings, with Stu and Camille and Oxford Pies owners and bakers, Amy and Tim Milina spending weeks planning new creations and working out how to make the fundraiser bigger each year.

This year’s menu includes a mince and double cheese pie, a beef, bacon and cheese sausage roll and a brownie dessert pie featuring brownie, berries and whipped cream.

Amy and Tim Milina are responsible for creating the pies, with the production process involving both machinery and plenty of hands-on preparation. The sweet Brownie Pies, for example, are made fresh every two days.

The pop-up at Love Bites on Tuesday started early, with the group up at dawn to get everything ready. While the morning was busy, more customers began arriving as lunchtime approached.

For Kids in Need Waikato, the money raised goes towards care packages for children in need. The charity provides children entering or living in care with practical items including clothing, toiletries, books and other essentials.

For the four partners, the fundraiser has become more than a one-off promotion. What began with an idea over coffee has developed into an annual collaboration, with new pie ideas and fundraising plans discussed each year.

The organisers say the appeal is partly in keeping the fundraiser fun while supporting a serious cause.

Fifty cents from every participating pie sold goes to Kids in Need Waikato, with the limited-edition products available at participating stockists and online until October 2.

For Stu and Camille, six years of pies has turned an impromptu idea into a community tradition; one that gives Waikato customers a simple way to put something back into their community with their lunch.