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Over the past two weeks, Coast residents have been making their way into the Hibiscus Matters office in Ōrewa, bearing gifts.
Shopping bags full of Christmas goodies and non-perishable staple foods soon piled up at the foot of the newspaper’s Christmas tree.
A fat wad of vouchers, including supermarket, petrol, Paper Plus and Toy World Silverdale grew daily.
They were donated for the paper’s annual Buy Local Give Local campaign, which this year supported the Hibiscus Coast Community House foodbank in Ōrewa, Love Soup Hibiscus Coast and the Salt Community Trust.
It helps those charitable organisations fill their food parcels and free festive meals with cheer for local people who struggle at this time of year, and they were especially grateful that everyone who donated used their time and money to purchase the items that those organisations specifically requested.
Hibiscus Matters has run this campaign every Christmas since 2013. It aims to support local businesses, while putting smiles on people’s faces and food on their Christmas table.
Every year has seen it grow. This year, despite hard times for many, a record $730 worth of vouchers was donated, along with all those grocery items.
Every donation counted, and helped make Christmas a little brighter for another Coastie. One woman came in several times with a bag full of goodies.
Special mention to the box of treats brought in from Hibiscus Coast Village residents, and to Hibiscus & Bays Local Board members Leanne Willis and Sam Mills for their generosity.
Again, a big thank you to everyone – it is especially heartwarming to see people give when they themselves may be facing difficult times.
