Kerry Owen, of Utah, United States of America, MNZM, for services to children
Kerry Owen founded the charity Feed the Need to provide lunches to disadvantaged schoolchildren. She has been instrumental in delivering hot fresh lunches to low-decile schools during the winter months. Feed the Need initiated a work placement programme, providing students from alternative education with paid employment. Mrs Owen, together with Mrs Laurie Whatemate-Keung, is now introducing a food pantry programme within schools, which includes emergency packs and weekend packs, with the intent to supply whanau packs and hygiene kits. Mrs Owen and her husband were registered as foster parents with the former Child Youth and Family (now Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children) and she has advocated for children in care.