A generous donation from Motueka car club Golden Bay Rodders is set to make life just a little easier for members of the town’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) group.
The club recently contributed $500 to the group, providing much-needed support for Motueka’s 20 GRG members who, through a range of circumstances, have become the primary caregivers for their grandchildren.
For about the last decade, the Rodders have held an all-vehicle car show at Marchwood Park on the first Sunday of January. This year, 215 cars showed up to “park under the trees and enjoy the day”, says club president Jamie Hovenden.
Drivers are free, while passengers and spectators are asked for a $2 donation to attend the event.
Each year, the profits are donated to a local charity, and this year, the Rodders chose GRG as the recipients, partly based on the current experiences of one of their members.
Local coordinator Rankeilor Arnott says that the donation will benefit the members in all sorts of ways. School uniforms, car repairs, holiday camps, assistance with food, trips to the movies and respite care are examples of where the money may be spent to alleviate a little pressure for the GRG members.
“It lifts people up,” Rankeilor says. “It means a lot to them, that our community is donating to them.”
“And it feels better for us to know that our money is going to our community,” adds Jamie.
