The boxes are ready – now they need Motueka’s help to fill them.
Motueka’s Community House will once again be holding their Christmas Get Together, providing a reprieve for people for whom the festive season is a struggle.
Facility manager Jane Henderson says the event, held this year on Saturday, 20 December, is designed to provide some Christmas joy for people who are struggling with hardship or isolation.
“The need is out the gate, it really is,” she says. “It’s not getting better at all.”
She explains that the cost of living is affecting a whole new demographic who just cannot make ends meet. Some of these are flood-affected households who have found themselves in need of “a double layer of support”.
The Christmas Get Together is in its third year and serves up to 150 adults and a similar number of children. Attendees are nominated by other agencies and are welcomed to a rolling barbeque lunch. They are also given a pantry box of Christmas treats and each leave with a small present.
Jane says the organisers would love donations of non-perishable food items such as jams and chutneys, as well as chocolates and toiletries – basically, “nice treaty things that people in need won’t buy themselves”.
These items will go towards either the take-home pantry boxes or to the “give and take” table, where people can select something to keep for themselves or to gift on.
Jane notes that often the adults pick something for their children, and the children find a gift for the adults in their lives, “which is just really adorable”.
The organisers would also love the donation of great-quality or new items that can be wrapped as dedicated presents for each of the attending children. Jane reckons the 7 to 10-year-old age group can sometimes be a tricky one to fill, so any help with that is particularly appreciated.
“Often people’s situations aren’t great financially or in other ways,” Jane says.
“For them to be able to receive a gift from someone in the community who cares really means a huge amount, and helps them feel accepted, cared about and included.”
The Crafty Tarts craft group usually helps out with handmade gifts and decorations, while Grandparents Raising Grandchildren contribute home-baked Christmas cookies for the cause. Financial donations are also very appreciated – a single pantry box can be sponsored with a $50 donation, or $100 will cover a family box, but any amount helps to fill a gap in provisions.
Drop-offs can be made to Community House in Decks Reserve, and financial contributions can be deposited into 03-1354-0540359-00.
