A charitable act from one community group to another has strengthened an unlikely link between the Motueka Quilting Connection and the local search and rescue service.
The nimble-fingers quilters have made a $1500 donation to Motueka’s SAR organisation after appointing the latter as their dedicated charity to benefit from the raffle sales at the Motueka quilt show, held at the recreation centre in May.
It is the second year that the two groups have joined forces, with the SAR team providing man (and woman) power to help out with the considerable quilting show set-up. The organisation also had an information stall at the show, and it featured in its very own search-and-rescue-themed quilting section.
SAR volunteers Tania Jones and Jonny Frif were presented with the donation last week, and Tania says that they are hugely grateful for both the financial assistance and the increased visibility within the community.
She says that the costs for SAR are going up all the time, and the Motueka branch relies heavily on grants and fundraising.
Kay Palmer, a member of the quilting group, says that it is important to the crafters that the raised funds stay local.
Last year’s funds were used to purchase more rescue gear, and Tania says that this year they have been earmarked for first aid supplies.
