The response from volunteers and donors has been tremendous, says Marlena Hoeft-Marwick, National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

"Some people have donated money, others have given food items and essential household goods."

"Our ongoing efforts to support the disadvantaged would not be possible without a multitude of donors and volunteers."
"Many regions have received donations which have been used to help the disadvantaged in those areas."

"Our National Office launched a National Appeal in June which has so far raised $15,000. We have also developed social media platforms to raise awareness of the needs in the community and to encourage people to contribute."

Marlena said the Society was seeing people and families who do not usually ask for help.

"This is a very tough time for a lot of people - people sleeping in vans, people in over-crowded homes and people needing food parcels and household essentials just to get through."

Mike Daly, the Society's Area President in Christchurch, said that during lockdown the Society was faced with the challenge of continuing to provide assistance to welfare clients when it had no income from its retail shops which were closed.

"We designed an electronic method of issuing grocery vouchers to those in need. The system worked very well with the client receiving the voucher by text and then able to redeem the voucher at their local supermarket."

"The cost was projected to be $5,000 per week. We set up a "Give a Little" page and after one month in level 4 of Covid-19, we had issued over 300 vouchers and spent over $20,000.

During the same period, our "Give a Little" page had received $14,000 with an additional $6,000 donated directly to Vinnies. God indeed provides through the generosity of many!"

In Auckland during the first lockdown period from March to the end of June, the Vinnies responded to well over 12,000 referrals/requests for food parcels, said Claire Murphy, Auckland Area President.

"This unprecedented demand for food peaked at around 1000 parcels per week and since the first lockdown period, Vinnies have been processing an average of 500 referrals per week."

"Each family food parcel contains dry goods, fresh produce and bread, and a box of frozen meat, dairy and vegetables. Each food parcel is valued at around $100."

"The largest demand for food parcels comes from those affected by job losses."

Those who are struggling include Pasifika and Maori families, solo parents, those who are mentally and physically unwell, refugees, the homeless, those with expired visas, students on student and working visas, and the elderly.

Claire Murphy said it was a miracle that Vinnies Auckland was able to process 500 parcels each week.

"This huge effort is being achieved thanks to donors on the "Give a Little" page and friends of Vinnies who support us each year. We are also lucky to have wonderful volunteers - individuals, youth groups and organisations that pack and process the thousands of parcels and deliver them."

The Society in Westport reports that "since lockdown, we have had numerous requests for assistance with food parcels. We have been very fortunate to have received generous anonymous donations from people who know the work we do in the community and want to do their bit to help."

Kathy Egan, from the Society's Taradale conference, said that since lockdown "we have been busy re-stocking the depleted community foodbank, taking the elderly from the local rest homes for walks and delivering ‘cuisine' food, donated by a local business, to several families.

We also provided funds to local early childhood centres for outings and equipment not covered by Ministry of Education funding."

"In these cold winter months, firewood has been delivered to many families and we have also provided personal items for women and children staying at the Women's Refuge."

Millie Lambess, the Society's Wellington Area communications manager, said that since the first lockdown ended in June, the Vinnies Wellington food bank was continuing to operate at a 100+% increase in the support provided to clients.

"Alongside the distribution of practical assistance, our Community Social Worker is experiencing an increasing need for psycho-social support as the long-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdown emerge," said Millie.

Source
Supplied: St Vincent de Paul Society

The Appeal will run until December.

The goal is to raise $4 million to provide people with economic, social and emotional support during these times of severe hardship, says SVDP National President Marlena Hoeft-Marwick.

"Many of our services have been funded through our Op Shops which had to close during April and May, resulting in a loss of income of about $1.5 million."

"At the same time, the demands for our services have increased by around 400% and are continuing to increase."

"The National Recovery Appeal is essential to ensure that we can meet the increasing demand for assistance."

An SVDP National Recovery Appeal website has been developed and supporters are encouraged to donate online at: donate.svdp.org.nz.

People can also donate by cheque and bankcard.

Donations will be used to provide people with the essentials such as food parcels, clothing, household goods and services, as well as social and emotional support.

"Funds will be distributed to Vinnies Centres throughout New Zealand so support can be provided locally," says Marlena.

"Our job is to ease the pressure on individuals and families with practical help."

The National Recovery Appeal has the endorsement of Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington.

"Covid-19 is creating new layers of poverty and need in our community, and it is vital the St Vincent de Paul Society is able to do the work it has done for decades and to add to it as new needs emerge."

"I commend the St Vincent de Paul Society for taking proactive steps to ensure that it can continue to help those in need as we all grapple with the needs of our new environment."

St Vincent de Paul is a registered charity and all donations over $5 are tax-deductible.

Donate

• donate.svdp.org.nz
• national@svdp.org.nz

Source

• svdp.org.nz
• Image: .facebook.com

Work that is less visible nationally but very important locally is happening everywhere.

Foodbanks and soup kitchens are two very busy basic services working hard behind the scenes.

Some extraordinary ingenuity is being used in these extraordinary times when essential Catholic spiritual work such as, attending to the sick and dying, is severely restricted by Level 4 rules.

Dunedin

Two St Vincent de Paul staff have continued to work providing food parcels. Because the usual donations of food at parish Masses has not been available, food has been bought with donated money, including with a grant from the Tindall Foundation.

The Dunedin and Central Otago Catholic Social Services (CSS) counselling and social work teams are keeping in touch with people using Zoom and phone calls, providing support, counselling, information and helping people get food parcels, technology support and financial help when needed.

Mike Tonks, CSS Dunedin Director, says life for some people has been a little easier under lockdown, with some having less anxiety and reporting they are coping better.

Christchurch
Catholic Social Services Manager Jon Brian says team members are working from home to support parishioners via phone and video link. People are pleased to "unload" to a professional counsellor outside their "bubble," he says.

"Almost all the people reached didn't expect to be contacted or to be able to contact counsellors; they were pleasantly surprised and grateful for that," Jon said.

Catholic hospital chaplains are continuing to work from home, connecting with patients and hospital staff by phone and other devices.

Wellington
Hospital chaplain Lizzie Wootton says chaplains are learning to adapt to new rhythms and routines, at a time when face to face contact is not possible.

But she is able to talk to and pray with people in hospital using their own and hospital phones.

"I try to be present to them because human presence in any form helps with mental health and healing," Lizzie said.

The Compassion Soup Kitchen has doubled its meal production to more than 150 a day since the lockdown started.

The kitchen has closed its communal dining area, instead, they are distributing meals at the door.

Auckland
Catholic Social Services, Catholic Caring Foundation and St Vincent de Paul's foodbank in Newton are working together to get food parcels out to the elderly.

Parishes are also responding to the crisis by setting up phone groups to call elderly parishioners to see who needs help.

One parish is forwarding fresh produce to Vinnies, while another is ensuring that protective gear is made available to the volunteers and staff at the foodbank. Another parish programme is being set up to help the elderly receive their flu vaccinations.

Source

Supplied: He Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Caring for the planet is an essential part of living the Gospel today, says John Kennedy-Good, leader of the Society's social justice outreach.

"Vincentians are committed to living sustainably and responding to the challenges outlined in Pope Francis's encyclical, Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home. In the words of the Pope: ‘Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience.' "

John says the Society will be asking young Vinnies to take the lead in developing a strategy for practical action in living sustainably and caring for the environment. Conference members of the Society will be invited to engage with that strategy.

"We will be encouraging all Conference members to reflect on the Pope's message in Laudato Si' and to discuss ways they can respond as Conferences, and as individuals."

John said the Society was well-placed to be an authentic voice advocating against wastefulness in our consumerist society.

"We are striving to be a leader in recycling second-hand goods through our extensive network of shops. We also want to reduce waste by improving sorting methods, expanding recycling opportunities and educating donors."

Respect for the environment sits alongside respect for people in the Society's thinking, says John.

"We have to find the commitment and courage to act in this area, just as we do to be close to those who are vulnerable and lonely. We must move beyond words and take action to reduce our carbon footprint and live sustainably".

"Pope Francis puts it very powerfully: ‘The earth itself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor'.

"It is not an option to sit on the sidelines and do nothing while the overwhelming scientific consensus is that humankind is having a devastating impact on the environment in which we live."

Source

• Supplied: Michael Fitzsimons St Vincent de Paul Society
• Image: vaticannews.va

It was the brainchild of members of the Palmerston North St. Vincent de Paul Society.

People requiring treatment for cancer have, until now, had to go to Palmerston North from other mid-north Island places to receive treatment such as radiotherapy from MidCentral District Health Board.

Earlier this month, prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced new radiotherapy machines would be rolled out across the country, including regions such as Hawke's Bay and Taranaki.

The fact regional services may now mean fewer people coming to stay at Ozanam House has forced the trust to "think outside the square" when it comes to what the future may hold.

At this stage, it's unknown what effect this will have on demand for Ozanam House's services.

"We don't really know what impact this is going to have," says Ozanam House chairman Bill Bly, who was also chairman of the Manawatu Cancer Society.

The motivation for setting up Ozanam House came from members of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

During hospital visiting and welfare work, they saw a need for a home where relatives of out-of-town patients could stay.

In 1967 the Society purchased a four bedroomed home a few hundred yards from the Hospital.

It was named Ozanam House in honour of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

On 2nd February 1971, The Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Cancer Society of New Zealand (Manawatu Centre) Incorporated instituted a charitable trust under the name "The Ozanam House Trust"

There are now 13 homes that can house more than 130 people all up - are set up with private rooms with ensuites, but shared living spaces, such as lounges and kitchens.

Source

• www.stuff.co.nz
• ozanamhouse.org.nz
• Image: facebook.com

The seminars, run by the Society's National Spiritual Adviser Fr Jeff Drane, are being held in the coming months in response to requests from Vincentians at the grassroots level.

The theme of the seminar series is: There's work to be done - renewing the Society's vision in New Zealand.

"The seminars will provide an opportunity for people to be inspired once again by the vision of the Society and to be re-motivated in putting their faith into action," says Jeff.

"Together we will re-look at the mission of the Society and re-evaluate what we are doing locally to meet the needs of the disadvantaged, particularly those on the fringes of society."

At the seminars, there will be a strong focus on recruiting new members and pooling members' experience of what works well in attracting new and younger members.

"The membership of the Society is ageing and we need fresh blood," says Jeff.

"We need to invite people from a range of faith communities - Maori, Pasifika, Filipino, Indian, Korean for example - to set up Vinnies groups in which they feel comfortable.

"There is a great opportunity to harness the vitality of these communities in the service of those most in need in society."

The Society's Youth Adviser to the National Board, Paolo Minehan, says there is huge potential to attract young people to the work of the Society.

The challenge for the Society is to be flexible enough to engage with them, says Paolo.

"We need to come up with projects which young people can do and which fit in with their schedules.

"Young people have lots of skills and talents and they can offer those to the Society if you give them the opportunity.

"The way the Society is organised, meetings can be hard for young people to get to and it can be a bit of a closed shop."

Source

Supplied: read the complete press release

Manager Jan Rutledge said the number of families they will be providing for at Christmas this year is the most it ever has experienced.

De Paul House was established in the early 1980s out of a concern about the number of families on Auckland's North Shore who were either living in overcrowded circumstances or were homeless.

Members of the St Vincent de Paul society in Northcote transformed the St Dominic's building, which had been used as extra classrooms for the local school, into an emergency housing facility.

The Daughters of Charity of the Australian Province administered the service on behalf of the Diocese and began the emergency housing and family support service in 1986.

De Paul House has over this period developed programmes to assist families with living skills, parenting, early childhood development, preparation for employment and family outreach support.

From its volunteer-led foundations in 1986, it now has a paid workforce of trained professionals.

It is supported by grants from the ministry of social development, the Auckland city council and a number of charitable trusts, foundations and businesses.

Stuff reports that figures show a record number of children will be spending Christmas in Auckland's organisations for the homeless.

Auckland City Mission's chief executive said they were expecting this Christmas to be their most demanding ever.

The organisation had distributed 17,094 emergency food parcels this year, a 27 percent increase on the previous year.

"For people who are struggling 364 days of the year, it is only fair that for one day there is something to celebrate," he said.

"People who cannot afford food on a week-by-week basis cannot afford something special at Christmas, and that's where we and the people of Auckland step in."

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• facebook.com
• nzherald.co.nz
• depaulhouse.org.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Marlena Hoeft-Marwick has been involved with the Society of St Vincent de Paul since she was in primary school and has come up through the ranks of the Society.

Her roles in the Society have included two terms as Marlborough Area Council President and National Council member for four years.

Marlena has a strong commitment to social justice. She is very experienced in working in an advocacy role with clients to get the support they need from government agencies such as the local DHB, WINZ, Barnados Child and Family Services, and Migrant Services.

She brings to the role a broad range of governance and business experience. She has worked in the legal and medical administration sectors in Australia and London.

She has managed a number of businesses including the family building business, and has been the creator and operator of several start-up businesses.

Marlena is married with three grown-up children and lives in Picton. She and her husband Ian are involved in several community projects that protect the local environment through pest monitoring and trapping programmes.

She is also the coordinator of Community Fruit Marlborough which arranges for excess fruit to be donated to the local food bank which distributes it to schools.

The new National President is a keen netballer and tennis player.

"It is time for a new beginning, time to bring fresh energy to the challenge of feeding the poor, housing the homeless, visiting and sitting with the sick and lonely and listening to what they are telling us," says Marlena.

"Now is the time to embrace our mission of service with fresh energy and a clear sense of purpose."

Marlena says her leadership style will be one of truly listening to the membership and then working collaboratively and decisively to put plans into action.

"Effective leadership begins with listening. Everybody has something to contribute, whether it is expressed eloquently or simply.

"There is always a message, and it usually comes from the heart. We must at all times treat our fellow brothers and sisters with the Vincentian spirit of love and charity.

"It is my intention to be a servant leader by providing an encouraging forum at all levels of the Society to increase our membership and the number of conferences. My goal is also to see our spirituality nourished and shared with others.

"If we do that, it will be a natural progression to expand our works of charity throughout New Zealand."

Source
Supplied: St Vincent de Paul Society

They include Burmese Muslim, Rohingya from Myanmar, Palestinians from Syria, Afghan Dari speakers, Karen from Myanmar, South Sudanese and Bhutanese Nepali.

The centre trains over 100 volunteers to work in teams to support the new families for between three and six months.

Many volunteers return for second, third and sometimes more placements.

Others beaver away in the background doing a variety of tasks.

There are:

• The set-up team of five volunteers who sort the household goods
• The St Vincent de Paul Society who have for many years provided food parcels for new families
• The "Flower Lady," an elderly volunteer who provides flowers for adults on their arrival
• The Toy Sorters who co-ordinate toy boxes for the children

There is now a strong and well-supported community of former refugees settled into Palmerston North, making it a good place for family sponsors to welcome their relatives.

The Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust was set up early in 2017 to help former refugee families.

It covers the Central Districts areas of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatu.

The Trust has been fundraising and making themselves known to the community of former refugees and their supporters.

It has provided financial assistance to bring one family to New Zealand and has accepted applications from three more families.

But the Trust needs more money before it can accept any further applications.

The costs of sponsoring family members vary - for example, a family of four with airfares from Afghanistan plus medical fees can be as much as $12,000.

To donate to the Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust, go online to: givealittle.co.nz/org/manawaturrft

Source

• wn.catholic.org.nz/Mary Nash, Manawatu Reuniting Refugee Families Trust.
• Image: givealittle.co.nz/org/manawaturrft

The Society has forwarded $10,000 to Tonga and $3,000 to Samoa from its disaster relief fund.

Tonga's needs are around health, hygiene and basic food needs; in Samoa the focus is on the repair of family homes.

"We have been in contact with our National Presidents in Tonga and Samoa," says the Society's Twinning Officer, Arthur Schultze. "They have kept us up to date with the areas where assistance is most needed."

In Tonga, health and hygiene are the priority area for the Society. Funds are going towards items such as disinfectant, toilet paper, napkins, mosquito nets in response to an outbreak of dengue fever, water and basic food items.

In Samoa, agricultural supplies - tools and seeds - and the replacement of roofs on family homes are the initial focus of support.

"Prior to Cyclone Gita, two shipments of clothing and other basics were sent to Tonga and a further shipment was dispatched last week which included clothing, bedding and canned food," said Arthur Schultze.

The Society in New Zealand has launched an appeal for funds through its Councils and Conferences to provide Tonga and Samoa with ongoing support.

The Vinnies are also having a 'gold coin' collection at many Catholic schools and food donations are being collected in Auckland schools.

The Society's National Council of Australia has offered A$10,000 to assist with aid in Tonga.

If you would like to contribute funds to the SSVdP Appeal, please contact admin@svdp.org.nz or phone 04 499 5075

Source

• Supplied: St Vincent de Paul Society

Christ the King Primary School Owairaka assistant principal and Year 5 and 6 teacher Billy Hadnett came up with the idea for the initiative, which began in 2015.

Hadnett established Cans for Christmas as a project to initially create community and unity between Catholic schools in Auckland.

"The idea started after attending an Edmund Rice conference and becoming involved in a discussion about how helping in our own backyard is the first place we should start," Hadnett says.

"This, combined with the knowledge that all Catholic schools already do individual service projects, brought about the idea of schools pulling together as one to donate at one time and in a large capacity."

Students taking part gain a sense of involvement, as well as being a part of something bigger.

"All children and schools involved get to help with their little bit to be part of the larger donation - it means they can feel like they have helped in a big way, just by donating one or two cans."

Cans for Christmas has been operating for two years. In its first year, 10 schools and the Auckland Diocesan (sic) took part, and collected approximately 4000 cans, and last year 19 schools and the Auckland Diocesan gathered approximately 8000 cans.

These 8000 cans were estimated to be worth $11,000, which was only a small portion that St Vincent de Paul hand out at Christmas time each year to families in need.

This year, Cans for Christmas has grown to include 30 Catholic primary schools, seven secondary schools and the Auckland Diocesan, and it also involves two Dunedin-based primary schools.

It is hoped approximately 14,000 cans will be collected, Hadnett says, which is still a small proportion of what the St Vincent de Paul Society pass on to families in need at Christmas, every year.

Source

• Education HQ
• Givealittle
• Image: Education HQ

Society President Terry Comber said that the social issues that the Bishops raise are
at the forefront of the Society's work.

"On behalf of Vincentians in New Zealand, I would like to publicly support their Statement.

"We encounter people every day who are facing the personal and social challenges
the bishops are talking about - particularly lack of affordable housing, mental
health issues and the struggle of many elderly in our society to get by each week.
Their situation cannot be ignored. It is up to everybody from politicians to local
communities to address these issues.

"In the words of Pope Francis: 'Nothing else will change the world but people who
fight for justice and human dignity."'

Terry Comber urged Catholics to read the Statement carefully and act on its guidance.

"The Bishops' Statement covers complex topics honesty and sensitively. It shows
real awareness of what the reality is out there, a reality that our members are
encountering every day. When we vote, we need to consider the common good
and the vulnerable in New Zealand society, not just ourselves."

The Bishops' statement calls for a tax structure which is fair to low income earners
and advocates a thorough review and strengthening of the mental health sector. It
calls the growing prison population a "national disgrace", and advocates pro-life
attitudes and policies from inception to the last days of life.

The Bishops emphasise the role faith has in the public forum. It calls on all
brothers and sisters in Christ to let faith guide them in their political choices, and
to vote in accord with what's best for all of New Zealand, not just the individual
voter.

"Faith has a vital role in the public forum," says the Bishops' Statement. "Stand
up, uphold the common good of our nation, choose wisely and your vote will be a
blessing for our nation."

Anniversary celebrations are planned for the weekend of October 13-15 in Christchurch.

On Sunday October 15, an Anniversary Mass will be celebrated by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Martin Krebs as well as Bishops Owen Dolan and Charles Drennan.

Celebrations will also be attended by representatives of countries with which New Zealand has 'twinning programme' arrangements - Tokelau, Tonga, Sri Lanka and Samoa.

Other international guests will include the Council General and International Representative, Tony Muir, and International Territorial Vice-President, Frank Brassil.

"The weekend will be a wonderful opportunity to give thanks to God for all the blessings the Society has enjoyed over 150 years," says Terry Comber, National President of the Society.

"We remember especially our brother and sister Vincentians on whose shoulders we are standing, those caring people who have gone before us over many decades, carrying out their Vincentian vocation often under very trying conditions."

In addition to the Christchurch celebrations, local Conferences of the Society are also hosting local events and celebrations.

The Society has published a special Anniversary publication to mark this major milestone in its history.
The publication includes a visual timeline of the major milestones in its 150-year history, as well as reports about what local Conferences have been doing around the country.

In his message to Members, Cardinal John Dew said: "the Church in New Zealand and New Zealand Society owes an incredible debt of gratitude to the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society who have worked quietly and humbly to care for others in the name of Jesus.

"I offer deep thanks for the way you have been Christ's presence to those who needed a sign of hope and a gift of love and generosity."

The St Vincent de Paul Society is the largest Catholic lay organisation in the world. It is estimated that the Society's 800,000 members work with around 30 million people in need worldwide.

The first Conference was formed in Christchurch in 1867 and has flourished in Catholic parishes throughout New Zealand since then.

Today the Society has around 6,000 members in New Zealand, including associates and volunteers and 135 Conferences.

Source

• Supplied: Anne-Marie McCarten National Executive Officer St Vincent de Paul Society

It appears that while a few don't know the difference between a landfill and a charity Op Shop, the Vinnies in Hamilton say the good outweighs the bad by a country mile.

Last month TVNZ ran an episode of their documentary series Gutsful about dumping rubbish on OP Shops.

The promo said "We uncover some un-charitable dumping in the Waikato, where Hospice donations have gone to the dogs."

"Mike from St Vinnies has had a gutsful of sorting through sex toys and soiled goods."

But Rolton told the Waikato Times "The really good stuff that people know we can recycle, that's 99 per cent of it."

"We don't get a big pile of useless things, we get the occasional useless thing,"

The Hamilton St Vincent de Paul FaceBook page gives a good picture of the scope and variety of the things that people are doing to support the Society's works.

The Vinnies in Hamilton provide food parcels for families, school lunches for students and run a soup kitchen two nights a week.

"For just food alone, if you want a number, we feed everyone in Hamilton city once a year, and that's growing. Rolton​ said.

"On a dollar value, we put out $15,000 of food into the community every week."

"Our shops are basically our fundraisers because we don't get Government funding, so we have to survive on our own money."

Others, is seems are not so fortunate. Earlier this year the Manawatu Standard ran a piece about the Methodist Social Services Goodwill.

Manager Lyal Brenton told the Standard that that the accumulated junk left outside the city's charity op-shops was estimated to cost the sector $70,000 a year in disposal fees.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

He is pointing out to him the presence of the St Vincent de Paul group at the General Audience, just 50 metres away.

The photo shows the Pope acknowledging the group with a wave.

Bishop Dolan was at the International Assembly of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, held in Rome 3- 5 June 2016. There were National Presidents from well over 100 countries present at the Assembly.

New Zealand was represented by Terry Comber, National President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in New Zealand.

At the meeting Mr Renato Lima de Oliverira from Brazil was elected as the new International President of the Society.

The Gospel reflection of the day from Pope Francis: "I exhort you to pray with special intensity to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary that they will teach you how to love God and neighbour with full dedication".

Refugees, migrations, geopolitical situation in Lebanon, spiritual reflexion about hope and service were topics discussed during the General Assembly.

There were 4 keynote speakers:

Gushwell Brooks from South Africa is Communication leader at the Jesuite Refugee Service . He spoke about "International migrations and international refugee law" Listen to his presentation

Ella Bitar National President of the SSVP in Lebanon, spoke about 1.5 millions of refugees on 4 millions of habitants: Lebanon is dying". Read the text of the presentation

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me" was the title of Father Gregory Gay's presentation. He from the United States of America and is General spiritual advisor of the congregation of the mission. Read the text of the presentation

Sister Marie Rawform England is the General Spiritual advisor of the charity's daughters. Her topic was: "Turning hope into service". Read the text of the presentation

Source

• Supplied
• en.ssvpglobal.org
• Image: Supplied

Marketing Manager Sarah Ford said the cruise director's call was a big deal, as they usually only sell around 100 at a time.

She said one of the things that attracted the cruise ship's business was that their breads are made by Wellingtonians with intellectual disabilities.

Source
nzherald.co.nz

Two years ago, Sandringham resident Mark Ward was walking his dog, Taco, when they bumped into Irving.

He and Ward struck a deal that would ultimately affect thousands of families in need across Auckland.

Ward is a business development representative for Mrs Mac's Pies. He offered Irving some voluntary work cleaning pie warmers. For every clean warmer, he would donate a dozen pies to the charity. Continue reading

What may be more of an eye opener is that a local gang is doing the same thing.

The Tribal Huks is a gang from from Ngaruawahia.

Dubbed the 'sandwich gang', their president Jamie Pink says they fill a social need that wasn't being catered for adequately.

They have been feeding hungry kids in 31 Waikato schools for four years.

Now a gang wants to provide nourishment for kids in need across the country.

"Over 400 we reach a day; not enough ... There are so many hungry kids in the country, on a huge scale, and it isn't getting any better," said Pink.

Last week Pink and the gang started Kai 4 the future foundation and have kick-started it with a sum of $20,000.

The foundation is set up to collect money to purchase food for hungry children across the country.

The $20,000 foundation kickstart from the gang came from a membership tithing of a "few hundred."

Pink guarantees the money was made and given legitimately.

"We put the hat around, we've been saving for a little bit for this."

"When you have that many members you can get that money together."

Pink says there is about 300 members and associates of the huks.

He says knows the stigma that comes with being in a gang but wants the foundation to work.

For transparency and legitimacy he has brought on board "good people" to be signatories for the foundation's accounts.

"Some are community leaders, some run community houses; all these people are good people."

"The money isn't going through the gang and we can show that."

Ngaruawahia Community House manager Anne Ramsay is one of those that has been elected as a signatory.

Ramsay says that although she has apprehensions about Pink's gang ties- his heart and his commitment to the children are true.

"I really support the work that they do," Ramsay said.

"I probably have a few concerns around the perception of his gang involvement and hopefully that won't cloud people's thinking about it."

The plan is to set up a proper trust and continue to provide sandwiches in schools, as he has been doing already, and extend that to more schools."

The gang have been offered a lot of money since the Waikato Times broke the story of their good deeds in October 2014, but they have refused it.

"A lot of people have tried to give money online and personally too, but we've said no. We've taken food though and we always said we'd take food and give it to the kids."

"But here's a way they can give money and know that it's going to be watched over by the good people to feed the kids."

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

This award is given to secondary school students who have demonstrated commitment lo Wellington and their community.

It is the brainchild of mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

"it was time the positive aspects of teenagers were celebrated," she said.

Finn was nominated for the award by his house leader and teacher Mike L'Estrange.

"He is also very generous with his time and has contributed significantly to the community with the work be has done over the past three years as a member of Young Vinnies." Read More