Manawatu¯ Canteen restructure casualty
Young Manawatu¯ cancer patients are losing their refuge as a cashstrapped national youth charity undergoes a restructure.
Canteen NZ is a charity that supports people aged 13 to 24 who are affected by cancer. Last week, the cash-strapped charity announced it would need to close eight regional branches, and lose half its employees.
The Manawatu¯ branch in Palmerston North will close tomorrow.
‘‘I know it will be devastating for the members. It’s going to be hard coming back from Christmas and not having us here,’’ ex-manawatu¯ branch youth support co-ordinator Jean Thomas said.
For more than 100 young cancer patients, the Canteen house on Ferguson St had been an important part of their lives and respite from their struggles with cancer, Thomas said.
‘‘It was a place to get together for support, to mourn and remember friends . . . a place they could come to just be, and hang out, where people understood.’’
Thomas said it was a sad week – informing youth about the closure, and packing up the house, including setting aside photos and mementoes for people to collect.
She was particularly touched to find paper butterflies from an old art project. Each one was decorated with a word describing what the Canteen house meant to someone – freedom, community, an anchor.
Thomas, a former teacher, moved from Wellington and joined Canteen in September, in honour of her ex-husband and other friends and close family who’d died of cancer.
‘‘It’s something that is dear to my heart and it brings back the memory of them . . . I was really excited and passionate about the job and these kids.’’
She didn’t expect it to be over so soon, and wished she could have done more for them. But she wants to reassure the community that arrangements are being made to maintain some local support for the Canteen youth.
The local Rotary and surf lifesaving clubs that held fundraising events for Canteen would continue to do so.
Thomas is also talking with the Cancer Society and Child Cancer Foundation, as well as Youth One Stop Shop counsellors.
‘‘Although some of our members don’t fit into the age groups they usually look after, they’ve indicated they’re willing to help them out after we close up.’’
Canteen board chairwoman Carol Scholes said the restructure was tough for everybody, including the 17 dedicated employees losing their jobs.
But it was necessary for the charity to be financially viable, and its vision remained unchanged – to make sure no young person went through cancer alone.
A combination of face-to-face and online support services, supported by Canteen Australia, will remain available for Kiwi youth affected by cancer.