Te Whai thanks local community for help

BY JULIA WADE

After receiving hundreds of donations recently to fill festive baskets gifted to help those struggling over Christmas, a local social service would like to extend a big thank you to the many in the community who gave a helping hand.

Registered charity and social advocacy organisation, Te Whai Community Trust Mangawhai, ‘has a letter of thanks’ for all who have supported the group at Christmas and through the last year, says Te Whai’s services coordinator Kiri Eriwata.

“We would like to thank and acknowledge the support we’ve had from our community and all the individuals who have supported us in many different ways,” she says, “including our lovely Te Whai Sages who provide companionship to the elderly and to the many individuals who donated either money, goods or quality gifts for our Aroha Baskets.”

Te Whai wishes to thank Rosanne Davies and Debbie Stone, Jessica Holdaway, Caren Davis, Gabrielle Spiro and Margaret Salmon, and Moira and Peter Flower who organised the recent carols fundraiser; community groups Mangawhai Museum, Song Conversations, Mangawhai Gardening and Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Gardening Club, Lippy and Lunch Ladies, Helping Hands, Mangawhai Christmas Parade and John Phyllis for donating gifts; and local businesses Mangawhai Opportunity Factory Shop, The Mangawhai Club, Shazzaz, Kakariki, Funky Clothing, Jessie’s Cafe, Caro w Love, Four Square Mangawhai Heads, The Vitality Centre, Forward Fitness, Smith Construction, Tara Iti and Mangawhai Focus.

Big thanks also to Mangawhai Beach School, Mangawhai Kindy, Before 6, Miniwhais, and social services Police, Coast to Coast Healthcare Scope Nurse, Strengthening Families, Plunket, Midwives, Age Concern Rodney, Hospice Whangarei, CMA, St John Ambulance, Parent Port, Fostering Kids NZ and Kaipara District Council.

First established in 2015 as ‘Tamatea Community Trust Mangawhai’ after increasing concern that current social services were not keeping up with Mangawhai’s rapid growth rate, and with regional services being difficult for some residents to access, Te Whai acts as the first point of contact in directing people with specific needs to services

they require and to provide a readily accessible centre for local and regional support groups. The dedicated volunteers also offer educational workshops, provide information, companionship and promote values of non-violence and equity in all relationships.

¢ For more information visit the Te Whai facebook page.

Te Whai’s Aroha basket; an example of the variety of gifted supplies which helped bring some festive cheer to those who were struggling in Christmas 2019. PHOTO/SUE POYNTER