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Mahurangi Matters readers who supported last month’s Christmas Appeal have been thanked for their generosity and thoughtfulness.
Car loads of presents, as well as a box of local vouchers, were gifted to families in need via Homebuilders and the Women’s Centre Rodney.
Womens Centre Christmas Appeal coordinator Bridget Farmiloe says that after all the challenges of 2021, there were some emotional recipients.
“It was amazing to be able to spread joy through the community and we greatly appreciate all the generosity that the community has shown,” she says.
“It was particularly special to give presents to single Mums who have struggled with finances and isolation throughout lockdown.
“The recipients included about 100 children, as well as parents and some presents also went to women living alone.”
Bridget says the presents demonstrated an incredible level of thoughtfulness and showed people had taken the time to think about what families in need would appreciate.
“Women described feeling such relief at knowing they didn’t have to manage the burden of Christmas on their own and that their children would experience opening lovely presents on Christmas morning.”
Quentin Jukes, from Homebuilders, also passed on his thanks from the Homebuilders team and the present recipients.
“We know that lots of people have been finding things financially and emotionally tough, so we really appreciate that people went out of their way to donate something that helped bring joy to someone else’s Christmas,” he says.
For some families, it meant their children did not have to go without on Christmas morning.
“But there was also a sense of being part of a community that has lots of people who will look out for others. That can be really reassuring. Perhaps, too, there is an increased understanding at a time like this, with so much uncertainty, that any of us can end up in a situation we didn’t expect.”
Quentin says Homebuilders doesn’t keep numbers of people accessing support at Christmas, but he estimated that more than 100 families and hundreds of children benefited
“It really makes a huge difference for a large number of people.”
