Stationery packs for Porirua kids

A man given a second chance at life is making things a bit easier for Porirua school children.

Pera Barrett was nearly killed in a 2005 car crash and the woman he hit did die, something he said he will live with all his life.

‘‘I was lucky to get a second chance and if I can make a difference to someone then I should. I feel an obligation to do the stuff I can.’’

The Tawa man runs Shoebox Christmas, distributing gifts to some of Wellington and Porirua’s most deserving children and now he’s started a new plan to help out with stationery costs.

‘‘It’s a pretty simple idea, it’s just setting some of these kids up with stationery packs, that’s all there is to it.’’

It was a meeting with a primary school pupil that set the plan in motion.

‘‘I met a little girl who said she wanted stationery for Christmas because she knows her family is under pressure and is going to struggle when she goes to intermediate.

‘‘There was a 9-year-old girl who was worrying about something she shouldn’t have to.’’

The stress on some families at the beginning of the year was tough and school stationery just added to the problem, he said.

‘‘We should be helping these kids because they may be the ones to grow up and do something crazy for the world.’’

Linden School principal Gaylene Hill said the pupil at her school showed ‘‘immense heart’’ by asking for stationery as a present.

‘‘Pera’s taken that to heart and now he’s spreading it wider. This girl was blown away.’’