Boost for foster children

A small donation has made a big difference for the Foster Hope charity that is based in Kapaiti and Wellington.

Run by Kapiti resident Jess Anderson, the charity offers support for children going into foster care for the first time.

Last month the charity received an $850 donation from Chorus and service partner Downer at the charity’s storage site in All Safe Porirua.

The donation started as a small offering by Kapiti kaumatua Leon Hunia, who offered his koha from a blessing performed at the launch of the ultra fast broadband network in Kapiti.

A foster parent himself, he decided to donate his koha to a worthy cause, and Foster Hope was suggested after staff member Kevin McMullan saw an article in the local newspaper.

Chorus and Downer then matched the amount, with Wellington staff member Alisdair Durie contributing a PSP (PlayStation Portable) he won to raise extra money in a raffle.

Foster Hope co-ordinator Jess Anderson said she was blown away by the donation, which would be used to help foster chil- dren in the Wellington, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Wainuiomata, Kapiti and Manawatu districts.

The money will go towards assembling backpacks for children without any items of their own.

Photo: TALIA CARLISLE Boosting funds: Downer staff Eldon Potaka, left, and Kevin McMullan, right, check out the work of charity Foster Hope with co-ordinator Jess Anderson, and Shaun Dancer from Chorus, at All Safe in Porirua.