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Hibiscus Matters is inviting readers to help spread the spirit of Christmas by supporting those who need a little extra cheer this festive season. Donations can be left at the Hibiscus Matters office, 21 Florence Avenue, Ōrewa on weekdays, 9am-4pm, until December 12.
Meet the three charities we’re collecting for this year.
Saving Hope Foundation
Donations will benefit rescued puppies and dogs, many of whom come into care with worms or fleas. Clean blankets and towels will also help keep young pups clean and are used to aid mother dogs in the community to keep their pups off the cold ground.
Co-founder Janine Hinton says the Christmas and post-Christmas season is hard on the organisation as many of their supporters take a much-needed break over the holidays but †he rescue work doesn’t stop. Through no fault of their own, the animals that come to the shelter have been abused, abandoned, tortured, hurt, traumatised or neglected.
“We frequently have dogs and litters of puppies brought in on Christmas Day and, heartbreakingly, we do see a big increase in families wanting to re-home puppies given as gifts during the holiday period, which further stretches our limited resources,” Hinton says.
The network of volunteers work to rescue, clean, medically recover, rehabilitate, feed, love and re-home the abandoned animals.
Hinton says that ‘rescue dog’ does not mean damaged dog, but it means these dogs have been badly let down by humans. The ultimate goal is to place all their rescue dogs with loving forever homes and owners who will make them part of their family.
Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren Inc
Some of the donations will benefit grandparents who have made the difficult decision to care of their grandchildren, or great grandchildren, full-time and on a permanent basis, as well as the children they are caring for.
Support coordinator Donna Taylor says they run a gift drive each year so the grandparents can ‘shop for free’. The Grans Free Shopping Spree was started after covid to help with the angst of Christmas, particularly the cost.
“Most grandparents are on a pension or have had to give up work to accommodate the children at home,” Taylor says.
“Even the idea of shopping itself can be stressful – some grandparents have mobility issues and they often don’t have babysitters they can call on.
“Just knowing what to buy can be challenging as well.”
Taylor says the Shopping Spree helps ease the load for grandparents.
“It also means they don’t have to go into debt to give the children what they feel is a much-deserved Christmas. With some children coming from family violence and fractured families, the grandparents want to give their all in every way they can.”
Taylor says the support for these grandparents filters down to other members of their immediate families as well. She says it can mean more food on the table at Christmas time, or more fuel in the car to visit family or friends or to do activities with the children after Christmas.
Woven Earth
Family violence survivors and their children will be among the collection beneficiaries. Often, they flee a violent relationship with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Though they are alive and physically safe, they have lost everything they own.
Woven Earth founder and chief executive Kerryn Thrupp says Christmas can be a really tough time for many, particularly for those impacted by family violence. When a family finally secures a place to live, they face the harsh reality of moving into an empty house without any way to furnish it to begin rebuilding their lives.
“I still find Christmas difficult. It was so confronting for years after my children and I escaped my abusive marriage. No money or friends, scared every day for our safety, and then having to find a way to make Christmas magical for my children,” Thrupp says.
“But what does stand out is the year a charity gave me a huge box of new toys and wrapping paper. I remember the feeling of tears and relief at having new beautiful things that my children would love unwrapping,” Thrupp says.
Facing homelessness with no money, survivors have to balance caring for traumatised children, managing their own mental and physical health struggles, and navigating a legal system while at their most vulnerable. Thrupp says that some of these barriers prevent people from leaving their abusers, perpetuating an ongoing cycle of violence and, in some cases, death.
With support from Woven Earth, a mum of five says they are now on a new journey and can look forward to the future and never look back.
“I’ve had such a rough, violent road in the past and seeing my place set up was such a blessing. This is a place we can finally call home,” she says.
