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A shipping container full of clothes, water, food and other essential items is on its way to Tuvalu, thanks to the generosity of the Warkworth community.
Mahurangi College support teacher Situila Neleta made an appeal in the April 15 issue of Mahurangi Matters, on behalf of the small Pacific island of Nui, part of the Tuvalu group, which was devastated in Cyclone Pam in March.
The 70 families on the island were relying on overseas aid after the cyclone wiped out their crops and destroyed most of their buildings, and left them without fresh drinking water or electricity.
“It’s hard for me to find the words to express my gratitude,” Situila says. “We only had about a week to collect the donations and the response from Warkworth was amazing.
“When we told our families on Nui what the people of Warkworth had done for them, they were encouraged and very grateful.”
Situila thanked everyone who donated, but also made special mention of the help received from Mahurangi College principal David Macleod, local schools, churches and the Maygrove Retirement Village.
“Warkworth Car and Truck Rental let us use a van free of charge to transport the donations to the container in Auckland.”
There are about 45 Tuvaluan students at the college, including 10 from Nui.
