Local Charitable Trust ‘Walk with Us’ has announced that, after 11 years of providing Nelson Tasman children with school and sports shoes, it is winding up its charitable work and closing permanently.
“Most of the trustees have been in their position for many years, and some now want to go on to retire or assist other local groups, so the decision was made to wind up the trust,” says chairperson and founding trustee Anne-Marie Teece.
Anne-Marie acknowledges that the last two years have been particularly financially challenging for some families and she hopes that Walk with Us helped them in a small way.
“We operated completely on donations, and we are incredibly grateful for the support given to us by the many local people and businesses through the years, our shoe suppliers provided discounted shoes, and many businesses donated to support fundraising events and auctions.”
Over 11 years, $140,000 was raised by the trust’s auctions and donations.
Some standout local businesses that were particularly generous year-on-year were Aimex, Westfleet, Waimea and Nelson Weeklies, Discover NZ, Richmond Mall, Richmond Aquatic Centre, NBS and Port Nelson.
“The Walk with Us trustees were always in awe of the generosity of everyone involved at our fundraisers,” Anne-Marie adds.
Fellow founding trustees Jenny Bates and Jill Taylor were asked what kept them with the trust for so long. They say it was the heartwarming and emotional stories told to them by teachers and parents about children receiving new shoes, often for the first time in their young lives.
Jill recalls one school principal telling her that the gift of quality shoes allowed children to play sports and participate in physical education to their maximum potential, and that the Walk with Us programme provided students with equality.
Anne-Marie also wanted to acknowledge the true heart of the trust - the current and past trustees, whose selfless and tireless efforts kept it going.
A special mention to Sue Cross who only retired last year, Jill Dew who undertook some major work as secretary, and Jenny Bates who spent nine years as treasurer.
Also invaluable was the support of their spouses, who often participated and helped their fundraising efforts with only a little prodding. Steve Page and Kevin Cross were particularly outstanding as the auction duo.
School principals, teachers, and administrators also played an important part, identifying the children in need of shoes whose families were going through a bit of a difficult period and could do with a little help.
Walk with Us Trust has been a true community effort, and its work will be missed. If you are looking to help children in a similar way, donate to KidsCan - NZ Children’s Charity and Charitable Trust, which also provides shoes to children in need through local schools.
Go to www.kidscan.org.nz to donate.
A wise person once said that, above anything else, charitable trusts nurture, repair, build and sustain our society.
Without the selfless work that these trusts do, society would be an empty shell.
