Louella Jensen, Branch President of NZ Red Cross Kāpiti Coast tells us that she has been very moved by the generosity of local folk towards the appeal to help our neighbours in Christchurch.
“As just one example, Warwick Halcrow manager of the local Saturday Market at Paraparaumu Beach invited me to organise a collection yesterday Saturday 26 February .Myself, Councillor Gurunathan, Jonny Best and Trevor Daniell all members of the Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board wearing Red Cross vests collected just over $1500.00 in three hours. Everyone was so generous and concerned as to the well-being of those in Christchurch”
She encourages people who want to donate to visit the NZ Red Cross Website: www.redcross.org.nz for information about donating online or by phone. Local branches of banks are also receiving donations. But for some people, those are not the most appropriate ways to give and she says that the local Red Cross members and volunteers who will be out with collection tins and buckets in the coming days will be very grateful for anything people can manage, perhaps after they’ve done their own essential shopping. Even 10 cent coins can add up to large amounts, she says.
Every cent from this year’s Annual Appeal taking place this week throughout New Zealand will go to the NZ Red Cross 2011 Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. That’s right, the entire sum collected will go to there. No administration costs come out of the funds donated. Clearly identified volunteers will be on the streets of Paekākāariki, Raumati Beach and Paraparaumu Beach on Friday, 4 March and then on Saturday, 5 March collectors will be at Coastlands in Paraparaumu, in the Waikanae shopping area (particularly near the supermarkets) and in central Ōtaki and in the shopping area on SH1, Ōtaki.
Louella says, “The Kāpiti Coast Branch of NZ Red Cross has a proud tradition of being able to contribute large totals to all appeals through the generosity of our local people”.
