Bits and Pieces

Jane Kay's feet were aching by the time she reached Morrinsville but she was determined she would keep walking.

She is one of a group walking from Te Kuiti to Thames in the fundraising Alzheimers Waikato Memory Walk.

Alzheimers Waikato, the region's support group for those suffering from dementia and their families, was forced to close its doors in July because it did not have enough money to continue operating.

Since then Mrs Kay and a group of former Alzheimers Waikato workers have continued to offer support services but in a limited capacity, with only enough funding to operate their free support line until December. But the group are determined that support will continue and they are now on a mission to raise $20,000 through the walk.

Mrs Kay, Wayne Pruden and other supporters were to walk from Morrinsville to Te Aroha today and then on to Paeroa tomorrow. They will be supported by Florence Monson, who will drive behind them in a bright yellow car donated to the group by Ingham Honda in Hamilton.

Mrs Monson said people had given generously and had even walked with them for part of the way to show their support. Once the group reach Thames on Thursday they will drive around the Coromandel Peninsula, stopping in each town to take up a collection.

 

Singing for Charity

A Pleasant Point group has raised $8000 for a local charity through fundraising and by winning their episode of TV2's music show One Night Only.

Dubbed the South Canterbury Shearers, the group beat Gisborne civil defence workers on Saturday night to win $5000 from the show for their chosen charity, the newly-formed Aaron Otley Foundation.

For the show, the group had to provide three acts: a solo, a duo or trio and a group performance with singing and dancing.

Legends Cafe owner and group member Stephen Casey said the programme was screened in his cafe on a TV donated for the evening by electrical store Bond and Bond.

About 100 people squeezed into the cafe to watch Mr Casey, Cameron Scott, Finian Scott, Bridget McIlraith, Hazel Clemens and Rose Struthers perform.

The TV was then auctioned off, along with Miss McIlraith, who works at the cafe and offered a day of housekeeping to the winner's bid of $460.

Mr Casey said the young people in the group – Hazel, Finian, Cameron and Bridget – had really done their town proud.

"The youngsters were just over the moon [with the win] and the community was rapt, too. It was a great community event in the end."

Pleasant Point boy Aaron Otley was just seven when he died in 2002 after developing a tumour.

Mr Casey said the foundation had been set up to support Pleasant Point families who one day might find themselves in the same position as the Otley family.

People could still donate to the foundation by dropping money into the collection box at Legends Cafe in Pleasant Point.

 

Charity Golf Tournament

More than $8000 was raised at the 29th annual Charity Golf Tournament in Helensville.

The event, involving 108 golfers, is a joint venture between Matua Valley Wines, the Helensville Golf Club and the Helensville Lions.

"These three community cornerstones have been joining forces annually for 29 years to raise money for local charities," says Matua Valley Wines marketing co-ordinator Hayley Tait.

The main proceeds went to the Muriwai Lifeguard Service to help with their latest building project.

"As well as providing lifesaving services for beachgoers, the club works tirelessly to provide education to local youth groups, schools and the wider population," she says.

"They play an essential role in keeping our community safe. Being located on a west coast beach has presented some strong challenges from nature with regards to continuing coastal erosion."

She says this forced the relocation of their tower a few years ago, and a reconfiguration of the southern carpark, which has meant creating a new access way to the clubrooms.

The club is fundraising for a building project.

Helensville Golf Club donates the green fees each year to make the annual event possible.

"It was a day of sunshine, entertainment and decidedly average golf, mainly because of the generous donation of some quality wine from Matua Valley," says Hayley.

A total of $8272.60 was raised, and $1000 of this will be given to the Helensville Lions for a charity in their region.

Vineyard Cottages and the Rugby Foundation for donated raffle prizes.

The sponsors are: Hally Labels, Naylor Love, Charta Packaging, BNZ, Alfa Electrical, Hillebrands, AB Equipment, Farrimond, Smith and Partners, Schofields, HVS, Foster's Group, BCS Engineering, The Longroom, Vinmax and Tibbits Engineering.

 

Toenail Fundraiser

There is no tip-toeing around by a group of Taranaki Salvation Army parishioners who are raising funds for their local foodbank – they're auctioning a toenail that has been grown and cultivated for a year.

The toenail, still attached to the foot and growing, has so far reached a top bid of $7.50 – almost enough for two cups of coffee.

The proceeds will be donated to the Hawera Salvation Army's foodbank.

The auction webpage, on TradeMe, describes the nail as a "good honest Kiwi male nail".

"Offered here for auction is your chance to own 1 only prime porcellus carnivarous keratin (middle toe nail) that has been carefully groomed for one year for you!"

The winning bidder has been promised a 12mm long of prime nail, neutral coloured no artificial additives, no steroids taken by the donor and freepost anywhere in New Zealand.

Eight bids have so far been placed on the unusual item.

Hawera Salvation Army head, Captain Joe Serevi was "not over the moon" with the auction.

He was told about it by a group of his parishioners on Sunday.

"I thought `Oh, glory'. I'm not really keen on the toenail."

However, Mr Serevi said it was honourable the group wanted to contribute to the charity.

A person responding to the sale on the website asked how long the nail would be when it was cut off.

"As I need more millimetres of nail than you can currently supply."

The seller said the nail was not expected to grow much more by the end of the auction, which closes on Monday at 8.30pm, but he did offer to send the person further clippings each week.

Another mused "I've heard of snail mail, but male nail!? I'm going pale!! I wonder what it'll retail for?" 

 

Recipe for Success

The runaway success of the Toi Tois Playcentre's latest fundraiser means planned essential structural work can be done and a new building might be possible.

Organisers thought a small recipe book would raise enough funds to have essential work carried out, but it grew into a 330-recipe, 208-page book, which has found a willing audience.

The first print run of 500 has turned out to be too small and another 500 have been printed.

Playcentre spokeswoman Justine Parker said organisers were astounded at the book's popularity. The book features 30 recipes from various celebrities, including Southland rugby team captain Jamie Mackintosh, Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English.

The possibility of building a much-needed extra room at the playcentre was being explored. 

 

Fundraising formula

Is there a fundraising formula for Marlborough community projects? The committee behind the building of Renwick's Giesen Sports and Events Centre says yes. His name is Ross Anderson.

Mr Anderson's fundraising debut was leading the Hospital Equipment Trust appeal to raise more than $1.5 million for new ultrasound, MRI and CT scanners for Wairau Hospital.

"I was hooked," he admits.

Since then, he has helped raise money for Stadium 2000, the Blenheim Rowing Club and the Giesen Sports and Events Centre.

A new theatre for Marlborough is his latest project.

Rule No1 in Mr Anderson's fundraising book is strong control by the fundraising manager.

Community fundraising projects could involve a lot of well-meaning people all keen to rush out and raise $5, when with a planned approach $5000 could be raised with the same effort, he said.

Rule two was having a high level of organisation and structure.

For the Giesen Sports and Events Centre project, Mr Anderson created a business plan outlining trustees' responsibilities, with "a business tree" setting out who needed to do what and when.

Credibility is Mr Anderson's third fundraising rule.

The whole concept of capital gifting required a project to have high credibility.

In the Giesen Centre example, highly respected Renwick publican Warren Croft was appointed patron.

"Capital gifting is about making people feel a part of your project."

A clear audit trail for cash received was essential to meet Inland Revenue Department requirements and donors must be sent an acknowledgement of the amount pledged.

Of course, a good cause was essential, as was buy-in from the local community, which in the case of the Renwick centre extended throughout the Marlborough sports community.

A structured launch presentation has been part of Mr Anderson's fundraising formula. Money spent on a memorable occasion such as the champagne breakfast held to raise funds for the Renwick sports and events centre was a good investment, adding status to the project and building goodwill with invited guests.

Naming rights as well as gold, silver and bronze pledges offered the opportunity for donors to be seen as good corporate citizens.

Tight control must be exercised over the capital-gifting period of five or six weeks from when the launch was held, Mr Anderson said. No other fundraising should be carried out at this time, as this could detract from the main event.

 

Charity money in plastic bags

Charging shoppers for plastic bags has generated over $145,000 for local charities and seen a dramatic drop in their use, The Warehouse says.

The retailer introduced a 10c charge on bags in April, with the goal of taking 20 million bags out of circulation within a year.

Warehouse chief executive Ian Morrice said the scheme had already been successful, with plastic bag use dropping 84 percent over July-September.

The company's 86 stores have donated proceeds from the scheme to local charities of their choice and will continue to contribute for a year, he said.

"We see this as a great opportunity for them to support their chosen local charities and further connect with their community at large."

Almost 80 percent of 600 shoppers surveyed were happy with the scheme, Mr Morrice said.

New World and Four Square supermarkets introduced a 5c charge for plastic bags in August, but dropped the scheme a month later after a customer backlash.

 

Charity in the kitchen

MANY OF us who work long hours during the week are far too frazzled by the weekend to think of helping ourselves, let alone others.

Yet a good proportion of New Zealanders are on the ball when it comes to charity work. According to figures from Auckland City Mission, we punch above our weight when it comes to volunteerism – our tiny nation has a whopping 1.2 million volunteers, who do everything from fight fires to lifeguard duty, deliver Meals on Wheels, visit rest homes and host fundraising balls.

We are, it seems, people of a caring, sharing nature. It's certainly true of celebrity chefs Jo Seagar, Mark Gregory and Peter Gordon, for whom charity work is part of life. But, do they do it out of a sense of duty, love for their community or because they enjoy the warm, fuzzy glow that comes with helping others?

Seagar, a former nurse turned TV chef who owns Seagars at Oxford, part restaurant, part B&B and part cook school, has been an ambassador for hospice for more than 10 years. She says she does something for the organisation nearly every week. For her, the association was part of a personal journey.

"My own father had been a hospice patient – in fact, he never had to leave home. He was looked after at home and an awful lot of hospice work is at people's houses. They made it possible for him to have a very comfortable, pain-free, well cared-for last part of his life. As a nurse, I've also seen the work of hospice and what a wonderful situation it provided for a lot of people."

When Seagar first went on television in 1999, she received 7000 letters of requests from charities, but hospice was the one that most touched her.

"I spent some time in Wellington with the Philanthropic Trust people and they said hospice was appallingly funded and really needed a champion... so I jumped in and said `pick me'."

She is now the spokeswoman and face for hospice and goes around the country presenting talks, doing charity cooking classes, raffles, garden visits, fundraising, visiting patients and even hosting them at her cook school.

"When I get asked to be a public speaker, I always make that into a donation to hospice. I get a number of people who come [to Seagars] because it's on their `bucket list'. Of course, it's very sad, but uplifting too because any truly charitable person will tell you that what you get out of these things are so much more than what you put in. I find their stories inspiring and I feel strongly that you can have a good birth, a good life and a good death."

 

charity ride

Nelson's Emma de Tracy Gould hasn't let a heart defect slow her down.

Tomorrow, (28th Nov) along with 24 other "heart children" from around New Zealand, she will ride a five-kilometre leg of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge as part of the Heart Kids Team, which has raised $55,000 for New Zealand children with heart conditions. More than 11,000 people compete in the annual road ride which circles Lake Taupo.

Emma was born with coarctation (narrowing) of the aorta and had surgery to correct the condition when she was barely a week old. Surgeons cut her aorta, removed the narrowed part and rejoined it.

Now the six-year-old was "full of life", said her mother, Michaela de Tracy Gould, who with Emma's father, Daniel, vividly remembers her daughter being operated on as a nine-day-old baby.

"She goes to Pippins and loves doing her swimming lessons and hanging out with her friends."

Emma, with a flash new bike, has raised more than $1200. "Emma is just such a beautiful little girl with such a zest for life," her mother said. "She's really looking forward to riding in the challenge. It will be a real buzz for her."

Nelson's Claire McAuley, 15, will also be taking part in the event. A heart child also, she will be riding the full 160km.

To support Emma, Claire and other Heart Kids around New Zealand, go to fundraiseonline.co.nz/emmadetracygould or fundraiseonline.co.nz/clairemcauley 

 

The Charity Squeeze

Less money to go around, more demand for charity and renewed scrutiny of high-profile fundraising events it's a tough time to be asking others for money. Geoff Collett reports.

It may never be easy relying on the charity of others to help pay your way in the world, but even in that context, 2009 is hardly going to go down as a vintage era for those whose livelihoods depend on fundraising.

Of course, there's the recession and the damage it has done to balance sheets of all shapes, sizes and hues, the not-for-profit and philanthropic sorts included. Less money to go round, in other words, including tens of millions less from the large community and gaming-machine trusts that provide the great bulk of non-government cash for the not-for-profit sector.

The demand for help from the stressed and struggling is only growing as redundancies bite, and now, to cap it all off, there's been a fresh round of public questioning of what proportion of public donations to some charities is finding its way to the worthy cause, and how much is being diverted to pay the costs of event organisers and canvassing outfits. TV3's recent Big Night In Telethon for the Kids Can charity is the latest focus of such scrutiny.

But if anybody is going to know about coping with adversity, the army of charities who hold the community together would be the past masters the acknowledged experts at making each dollar stretch that little further, of continually confronting the challenges of hardship. So, as the recession continues to reverberate, the tough have had to get going.

The Community Support Service run through Volunteer Nelson, the region's volunteer centre runs regular surveys of the community sector to gauge how organisations are coping. Centre manager Jude McNabb leafs through a bunch of recent responses: "Concerned about funding especially for operational expenses ... Will be OK but no room for expansion of services," says one agency working in the disability support area. Another, in the emergency accommodation field: "Positive right now, but concerned about future increases in client load and possible decreases in grant monies." A support agency for a debilitating illness: "Mentally we are well, but the increased pressure around where to source funds is taking more of our paid time in our already limited hours of employment."

It's not crisis stuff, but an anxiety, a "disquiet", as Ms McNabb puts it. The stress is only being added to for organisations that receive money from government agencies.

The Government has changed various arrangements; for example, scrapping some of the three-year funding contracts and reverting to annual reviews, removing the certainty that the charities and welfare groups crave.

Ad Feedback "We spend our whole life doing funding applications and accountabilities. It stops us being out there doing what we want to be doing," Ms McNabb says.

There's an anxiety, too, that publicity about professional fundraisers skimming a cut of donations will provoke a backlash, a reluctance to give donations just when they are needed most. The Alzheimers Society in Nelson, for example, writing to The Nelson Mail this week, was keen to make the point that all the money it raised in its recent appeal was going to be spent locally.

Leanne Cummins, the co-ordinator of the Fifeshire Foundation (one of the handful of Nelson-based charitable trusts), says that in the wake of the post-Telethon controversy, she has been conscious of reassuring people "that if they do give us money, it all goes back out in the community".

Judene Edgar is one of the few professional fundraisers working in the Nelson-Tasman region, and points out the distinction between those like her, who belong to the Fundraising Institute and sign up to its code of ethics (meaning, among other things, they are barred from accepting a commission), and the event managers or telemarketing companies who have moved into the sector, helping with donation-seeking on the basis that they take a cut the sort of approach that is rankling the public.

Mrs Edgar says the issues are not always clear-cut: groups trying to raise money inevitably incur costs, fundraising events come with a bill, and somehow they have to pay those bills. In her own case, she charges an hourly rate for services, costs that the groups she works with have to recoup.

Where a fundraising organisation could run into trouble is if it seeks donations it says are for its worthy cause, but then diverts a portion to cover overheads. They have to find other ways: a sausage sizzle may be less fraught than a donations drive, for example, because buying a sausage is essentially a commercial transaction with no particular expectation on the buyer's part as to where their $1.50 will end up.

She is seeing plenty of evidence of the wider pressures facing the not-for-profit sector as the recession bites and funding sources shrink. In her own case, she is getting requests every week from around the country to help groups facing fundraising challenges. Her assessment of the way groups need to respond to the mounting pressures is businesslike.

"Businesses have had to put off projects; not-for-profits have had to, too ... The bottom dollar is, they're in the same economic environment as everyone else. The same pressures are there so there will need to be revisions, cutbacks, and that is happening. The catch is that, depending on the nature of the not-for-profit, some of them too large a percentage provide vital community services."

The Fifeshire Foundation is about as close to the front line of those vital needs as any. While it is not large in comparison with the big national trusts and funding agencies that provide millions of dollars over a year, it is one of only a few substantial Nelson-based charitable trusts (others include the Network Tasman Trust and the George Brown Trust) and dispenses nearly $100,000 a year.

Mrs Cummins says the foundation is focused on meeting crisis and hardship in the Nelson community, and is unusual among charitable trusts in that it gives money to individuals as well as organisations.

Most months, it grants about $8000, but lately the demand has been rising steeply. "Last month, I got 40 applications. That was unheard of. I've been doing this job for 2 1/2 years and when I started, it would have been between 15 and 20 applications."

The 40 requests totalled $32,000; the trust managed to give out $12,000. Many were for the mundane living costs that some families cannot bear; four were for firewood; others for doctor's bills, appliance repairs, dental work (there are always three or four requests from beneficiaries facing unexpected large dental bills).

While demand is clearly up, the foundation is continuing to cope on the income side of its equation. Its sponsors (including Lone Star Farms, New Zealand King Salmon, the Nelson Building Society and More FM) help look after its overheads, and its major fundraising event, a golf tournament, brought in more than $20,000, about the same as last year.

The Nelson City Council, which is about to launch into its community assistance grants allocations, is also seeing sharp evidence of the demand out there. Most of its grants money is put into four-year contract agreements with various community agencies, and this year happens to be the one when all the existing contracts expire, triggering something of a stampede for funding.

Council grants are for organisations that can satisfy the council's broad "community outcomes" and it has requests for almost 3 1/2 times as much money as it has available for contract funding 66 groups have asked for $1.196 million compared with the $354,000 available. Most of them need money to cover their operational expenses, which other grants bodies and funding agencies rarely meet.

Others working at the front line, such as the Nelson Foodbank and the Women's and Children's Refuge, suspect that their profile as organisations dealing with the most urgent and needy cases helps them when donations are tight and people are choosier about where they direct their charity.

Foodbank treasurer Jan Noonan says it has handed out more food parcels this year than in any of the past three, and has had to seek out other grant sources after getting reduced money, or none at all, from some of its traditional funders.

Women's and Children's Refuge manager Trudie Brand says there is "a lot less money around". Its appeal week fell shorter than other years and she recalls a fundraising event, the "Girls Day Out", earlier this year where people were prepared to pay the entry fee but "you could tell they didn't have money to put into the donation tins".

The refuge has had to focus on its core operations and seek more in-kind support, whether gifts of household items or increased volunteer support. Ms Brand is philosophical about the situation. "There's not a lot we can do about it. All we can do is prioritise and focus on looking outside the square, and look at different ways of bringing in different resources."

Some in the sector suspect that the disciplines learned through the current difficulties will stand not-for-profit groups in good stead for the longer term.

"Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate," is the message from Ms McNabb at Volunteer Nelson, an organisation used to urging the not-for-profit sector to work together, avoid doubling up effort, move beyond the patch protection.

Mrs Edgar echoes the sentiment. "It's about going back to those basic principles, of having a budget, having your plan ... looking at ways they can share resources with an organisation and reduce costs."

- Nelson Mail

 

Fundraising to save The Turbo rugby team

Several thousand more dollars have been added to the Save The Turbos cause as the campaign to keep Manawatu in the top flight of New Zealand rugby nears its financial target.

Campaign manager Grant Smith said last night about $160,000 had been generated so far – just $20,000 short of what is needed to balance the rugby union's books.

"I think we're going to get there.

"I've had calls from former Manawatu All Blacks giving us money, farmers... and a doctor from Wellington – we're getting support from all over."

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) plans to reduce the number of teams in the Air New Zealand Cup next year.

Finances are 30 per cent of the criteria for determining which teams will stay and which ones will play in a lower division.

That has prompted a surge in financial backing for Manawatu to stay in the top grade.

Last night, the Manawatu Chamber of Commerce and Returned and Services Association ran an "Indoor Olympics" fundraiser.

Indoor bowls, snooker, bingo, pool, darts, poker and a quiz were played by Turbos supporters after they paid an entry fee.

Manawatu Rugby Union chief executive John Knowles said he was amazed by the level of support for the Turbos.

"The Manawatu public is capable of getting behind something if it's seen to be important," he said.

Pride in the green jersey had been reactivated this year, he said.

"The team are playing an open style of rugby. They've been there or thereabouts and have captured the hearts and minds of rugby followers up and down the country."

Despite a series of narrow losses, the team had showed they belonged in the top grade, he said.

People also liked the fact the squad was made up of local players, he said.

Manawatu's last game of the season is against North Harbour at FMG Stadium in Palmerston North on Saturday.

Mr Smith said it was important to have a big crowd to demonstrate to the NZRU that the team had a lot of support.

- Manawatu Standard

 

Theft of Sign Slows School Fundraiser

Vandals have slowed Pleasant Point Primary School's biggest fundraiser of the year, causing organisers to advertise the old-fashioned way instead.

On October 2, a 4.8-metre sign featuring the ace of spades and the words "Casino Royale 009" went missing from the Church St overbridge, after being up for just a day.

It was to advertise the primary school's major fundraiser of the year, with money going towards computer technology and upgrading the junior playground.

Organiser Jo Taylor said the school had spent $385 on the sign and could not afford to have another one made.

"We don't actually know what happened," Mrs Taylor said. "We hope someone will know where it is."

Since then, organisers have been handing out leaflets, advertising on the radio and spreading the news by word of mouth.

About $800 has been spent on the event, which will be at the Victor Wilson School hall on Saturday, Mrs Taylor said.

The first casino night was held five years ago, with about 200 people attending and around $3500 raised for the school.

Organisers hope to sell 400 tickets this year, with prizes up for grabs including an Air Safaris flight for two, a helicopter flight for three, two nights' accommodation in Christchurch, Hanmer or Cromwell, meal vouchers, firewood, movie vouchers, and dental services.

- The Timaru Herald

 

Warning Over Charity Scams

Generosity shown by Kiwis through donations to tsunami-devastated Samoa has been met with warnings from Pacific community leaders, who say scammers are cashing in on the disaster.

Porirua Deputy Mayor Litea Ah Hoi, whose family was affected by the tsunami, urged caution.

"We've learnt lessons from [Hurricane] Katrina, and the last thing we want is to have these funds that people are kindly donating, as well as goods be it food, clothes, be misused or mishandled and not get to those who are most definitely in need."

Kiwis have already donated more than $1.1 million in relief funds since the earthquake and tsunami rocked the South Pacific last Wednesday morning.

The warnings about scammers comes after the Consumer Affairs Ministry warned that natural disasters often triggered fake charity scams, as happened immediately after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

Ms Ah Hoi said those who wanted to make a cash donation should refrain from donating to door knockers or people with collection buckets.

"Ask whether it's going person-to-person or whether it's going to an organisation such as the Red Cross that are on the ground."

Ms Ah Hoi said that, in the past, scammers had been known to collect money and goods which either did not end up in the country affected or only went to the scammers' family overseas. "Be more vigilant. Ask the question."

She said it was "part of human nature" and that there were "bound to be" people who would use the disaster to prey on the most vulnerable.

While she had not heard of any cases of people who had been ripped off, she said Porirua was a prime target with the second-highest Pacific Islander population behind Manukau.

"It needs to be discussed. There are bound to be crooks out there."

Samoan community groups in Auckland also reported yesterday that some depots that collected goods and aid for Samoa may not be legitimate.

Ms Ah Hoi said: "My message to those who have a thought about scamming the good hearts of people who are wanting to give, if I catch you, or you are a local here in Porirua, you will be dealt with quite severely through the justice system.

"You're nothing but absolute low-lives, the parasites of this earth."

The Charities Commission said it had not received any complaints about Samoa appeals by last night.

- The Dominion Post

 

Hearing Dog Fundraiser

Staff at Russell Hearing Botany have contributed $2000 towards the cost of training a hearing dog through fundraisers including a raffle.

It goes towards their goal of raising $5000 to cover the cost of training a dog.

- Eastern Courier

 

Council to Support Wanganui Food Bank

Mayor Michael Laws today announced that Wanganui District Council will hold a joint campaign with Christian Social Services to support Wanganui's food bank operation.

At its meeting held on October 19, the council resolved:
That a joint Wanganui District Council/CSSW Wanganui Food Bank campaign include:
Wanganui District Council's support with publicity and promotion: providing Food Bank Campaign information in Community Link, the Council's Community Report, and in notes to ratepayers.
Three-monthly public appeals.
Approaching local supermarkets for containers and tamper-proof receptacles.
Making available up to $10,000 from the Mayoral Relief Fund for a 'dollar for dollar' appeal.

Investigating the ability for the Council to assist with storage of food in Council-owned or Council-controlled buildings.
"The City Missioner says that the foodbank is often the entrance point for families seeking extended social services, including budget skills and parenting skills, to achieve a long lasting improvement in our lifestyles," Mayor Laws said.
"We need to ensure that this essential community service is retained and the council is committed to supporting it on an ongoing basis. The current tough economic and financial times mean we should help the most vulnerable and needy in our community, and especially those with children.

"Foodbank is not a soft touch but an organisation that helps the tummy and then starts assisting with budgetary skills - this is a practical charity. The joint campaign is a major social policy initiative and the beginning of an ongoing relationship."

City Missioner Shirley-Joy Barrow said children and their families are high users of the service as they continue to be affected by the economic downturn.

"These children and teenagers are often hungry because of the behaviour of their parents. Our social work has increased as we enter into relationships with these families and encourage them to change their behaviour.
"So far this year, along with their parent/s, we have fed 826 children and teenagers. We have had more first time families requiring food parcels - 84 so far in 2009 - and more families turning up at Friendship Meals, especially during school holidays.

"If we give out 150 food parcels per month at $80 per parcel, that's more than $140,000 worth of food that we have to find every year, so we are very grateful for community donations. We will also be working hard to match the extremely generous 'dollar for dollar' contribution from the Mayoral Relief Fund."

- Voxy

 

Fundraiser to save school

A massive fundraising drive has begun to protect a 42-year Wakatipu High School outdoor "institution".

The school's board is struggling to subsidise the two-week Branches Camp from its annual government operations grant.

Board member Vanessa van Uden said the pressure on the school to stretch the operations grant further each year was having an impact. It cost $10,000 annually to run the camp with parents stumping up $250 towards the $350 cost for each student.

"The board has said we just can't do that (level of subsidy) any more but we're not prepared to let Branches Camp suffer."

A new outdoor endurance event, the Queenstown Hill/Te Tapununi Challenge, would be held on October 18 to raise money.

The 13km run, walk or mountainbike race starts at the school and goes over Queenstown Hill to Tucker Beach on the Shotover River.

Entry is $40 with all money raised to go to the camp fund.

A charitable trust has been established and a trust fund will be set up from March to work in perpetuity to put aside funds to protect the camp in years to come.

The camp for Year 10 pupils, held at Branches Station, had become an "institution", Ms van Uden said.

Any pupil who completed the outdoor education camp, roughing it in the wilderness and learning survival skills would agree it was "a life-changing experience", she said.

- Southland Times

 

Grant Denial A Hurdle

Plans for the all weather athletics track at the Sports Bowl have faltered on the back straight as a major grant application has been declined.

Wairarapa Regional All Weather Track Trust chairman Jonathan Hooker says the fact that Trust House has refused their grant application was not a "game-breaker" and they would continue to seek funds elsewhere.

He said that while the Trust House decision had not scuttled their plans, another refusal by one of the other main charitable trusts "may well change everything".

"It's just a bit of a blip: it's definitely not a game-breaker," he says.

Wairarapa News understands that the Trust House application was for $300,000.

Masterton District Council's pledge to provide $300,000 to go toward to the $980,000 project is contingent on the trust raising $50,000 in the community. Right now the fate of the all weather track seems to hang on the remaining trust applications.

"Clearly, if the other trusts don't come through, then we're not going to be picking up the $300,000 from council, because we don't have the other money," says Mr Hooker.

While the track trust had received positive news recently in the form of a $50,000 grant from the Pelorus Trust and a green light from the Wellington Athletics Centre indicating that the proposed track could host the Colgate inter-provincials in 2011, they had also been informed that another decision on a major grant had been pushed back. The Prime Community Trust has indicated that it will be deferring its decision on the trust's application until the end of October. An application to Eastern & Central Community Trust is currently in the pipeline.

Mr Hooker says they were disappointed by Trust House's refusal to support this application and were told Trust House had concerns over the likely number of track users. He noted it that it was unfortunate the news about the Colgate inter-provincials came after Trust House met to decide their application.

A website is now up and running that is taking donations to go towards the regional all weather track.

''We've already got people donating through the website, so that is going along quite nicely,'' he says.

http://www.allweathertrack.org.nz

- Wairarapa News